Today, I Found a Fountain

Now, I realize this may not seem like news, but I found something that I’ve passed numerous times and never noticed it was there. It was a fountain on the court square in the little town that I work in.

Let me rewind a bit...I recently decided to back off from social media. Not entirely, as cold turkey doesn’t always pan out, but more or less “portion-control” when and how I use social media. As you know from our blog, we consider ourselves minimalists. We purge various areas of our lives regularly and follow others who have done the same. Recently, I’ve come across some podcasts that have talked about social media and the “twitch” that it induces, along with the barriers it creates.

With the start of August, I decided to sign out of the apps on my phone and hide them in a folder. That way, I can still access them if I feel the need, but out of sight, out of mind. This forced me to be intentional with my time on the various platforms. The first day, I logged on once from a computer, checked notifications, looked at the first couple of posts in my newsfeed, and logged off. Since then, I really haven’t even had the desire to get back on and it’s only the second day.

Today, I decided to put in earbuds and tune into a podcast while going for a walk around downtown. That is where I came across a fountain that I had never seen before. Right smack dab in the middle of town. It’s not much, and doesn’t even flow very well, but it was shaded by a large tree and between that and the cool breeze, I decided to sit and just be for a while. It was a much needed pause in the middle of my hectic day.

The moral here is I was able to sit there and just enjoy the space and the moment. No likes, no comments, no useless information. Just absorbing and basking in the time and space in which I was in. That’s what we miss when we’re distracted by digital pacifiers. While I was there today, my phone never left my pocket, except to take a picture of my mid-day discovery so I could capture the moment in which I enjoyed just existing, and nothing more.

Simplify Your Gifting, Part 6

We've made it 6 weeks with Simplify Your Gifting! It's our hope that the last 5 posts have made you think or rethink about your gifting...and not just for the holidays, but gifting throughout the year.

Today's post sums up the whole series...think outside the box! We've covered a lot of gifting ideas that aren't thought of as the usual gift. Who says you have to be like everyone else? It's way more fun to be different! All of today's ideas are going to be a reminder of what we've already covered...and maybe a few new ones!

Outside the box ideas:

• Class or lesson fees
• Membership fees for things like Amazon Prime, book club, or a monthly "box" subscription (Dollar Shave Club, Crate Joy, Ipsy, Fab Fit Fun, Blue Apron, flower shop delivery, etc.)
• Subscriptions (think Highlights magazine...they now have products for 3 different age groups)
• Family pass for a local attraction (sport complex, museum, aquarium, movie theater, etc.)
• Gift cards - yeah, this is a popular gift for some givers, but that's because it's a no-brainer. A gift card allows the recipient to get what they want/need or it could be a much appreciated treat. Think of the young couple who might be just making ends meet...a restaurant gift card would be a perfect date night on someone else's tab (throw in an offer to babysit for free and you've given them a really nice gift). This is also a great way to gift your college student or a young single.
• Hostess gifts - wine is always good, personalized towel set or cutting board, flower arrangement or personalized wreath
• Support a hobby - brushes for the artist, lessons for the young musician, leotards for the dancer
• Time - who says you have to buy anything at all? Sometimes the best gift is just the gift of time. Do a holiday brunch or lunch for/with friends! You could buy or go Dutch...either way, you get to enjoy great food and company.

We want to take a minute to thank you for joining us the last 6 weeks for this series and hope that it's made an impact on your holiday thinking. Consumerism is at its height during the holidays and we're not buying it!

Happy gifting!

Simplify Your Gifting, Part 5

This is a gift idea we are implementing this year...our first year as an official family of 6. Yep...6, that's actually one of the reasons we are doing a family gift.

This year it will look like a trip to the movie theater. A trip like that for a family of 6 can be expensive! We've done it once before and Jason had some sticker shock. We're banking on this idea being a good one for our 6 because we all love movies and our 2 youngest can make it through a whole movie! They love going to the movies and see it as a treat, which makes it a perfect gift.

Other family gift ideas:

• Trip to a museum (or a family pass for the next year)
• Family paint class
• Trip to a holiday special (ice skating and hot chocolate, special light display, etc.)
• A sporting event (doesn't necessarily have to be a winter sport, this could be a gift to look forward to)
• A concert or show (another idea that could be after the holidays)
• A special activity on family vacation (think ahead to where you might be vacationing and look for ideas that would special while already away)

My last idea is bigger...vacation. If you're kids are already full in the toy department or your kids are grown and really don't need anything else, why not save the money you would have used for gifting to do a big family gift of vacation? This could be near the holidays or it could be later in the year. If you still need something for everyone to open, think of some things they might need on the future trip. Beach vacation...new beach towels and/or other beach gear. Mountain vacation....hiking gear. Vacation abroad...passports, non-touristy clothing items/gear, new camera, more memory cards and/or an extra battery for existing camera. Any vacation location...luggage.

I look forward to the fun of this gift and can't wait to see how this trip looks in the years to come. Cheers to the family gift!

Simplify Your Gifting, Part 4

This week's post is about -ship gifting. What is -ship gifting, you ask? This is another idea for giving that could involve goving back through scholarship or sponsorship. -ship gifting could be in honor of someone or it could be for your intended gift recipient.

-ship gifting could look like paying for a month of dance lessons, sports lessons, activity participation fees, or possibly camp fees.

-ship gifting in honor of someone could look like paying for several children to attend a camp or summer enrichment program. Check with your local youth organizations and see if they already have a scholarship fund set up for helping pay fees for kids who's parents can't afford it.

-ship gifting could also look like supporting a friend or family member participating on a mission trip or supporting a missionary in their name.

-ship gifting could also look like sponsoring a local classroom. You could honor a family member by supplying local children with coats for the winter.

-ship gifting allows you to either support your loved one in their passions or you could honor them by giving back. What an amazing way to gift this holiday season!

Simplify Your Gifting, Part 3

This week's post is about gifting community. I like this idea for the people in your life that already have everything and need nothing. Why not gift in their honor? I've come up with some suggestions, but let these be a starting point for you.

Gifting community ideas:

• Breakfast for local service men and women - what better way to honor a loved one and those serving your community? These men and women are away from their loved ones during the holidays serving and protecting while we are with ours.
• Teacher luncheon - honor a teacher in your life by providing lunch for staff at a local school. If you can't afford lunch, consider having danish or cookies delivered.
• Treat your nurses - nursing staff don't always get to spend the holidays with their families, show your appreciation by having breakfast or cookies delivered to nursing stations.
• Community Meal support - honor a loved one by donating to a community holiday meal. If you don't have the resources to donate you could volunteer to help with the meal.
• Local organization support - I'm a little partial to this one because of my day job. Chances are high that your community has at least 2 non-profit organizations that are looking for donors to support their programs. Honor a family member by donating to one of these organizations.
• Other ideas - purchase coats for kids in need, donate supplies to a local school serving low income children, donate socks to a local nursing home, donate diapers and/or formula to a local crisis nursery or pregnancy center, donate to your local shop with a cop, donate to your local food pantry, and the list goes on and on and on.

Gifts for your family don't have to be tangible for them, but could mean a lot to someone else. I can't think of a better way to honor those we love than by supporting others.

Simplify Your Gifting, Part 2

Last week I presented the idea of checking items off your gifting list by using small/local businesses. In this week's post, I'll talk about giveback gifting. Giveback gifting (my phrasing) is the use of purchasing item/s from a company that use part or all of their profits to benefit others. I'm sure there are a ton of these companies out there...I'm just providing you with a couple to get you started. I love the idea of purchasing from a companies or organizations that do this, don't you?

Giveback gifting ideas:

• Love Your Melon - what better gift at Christmas than a warm cozy beanie?! From their site: Love Your Melon is an apparel brand dedicated to giving a hat to every child battling cancer in America as well as supporting nonprofit organizations who lead the fight against pediatric cancer. Learn more about their mission and products by clicking here.
• Hope Outfitters - looking for a t-shirt or hoodie to gift this Christmas? Consider shopping with Hope Outfitters. From their site: Every 4-6 months we partner with a new charity, work to create awareness for it and donate 100% of the profits from the sale of our clothing back to its cause.  We call it, Buy 1 Give 100--You buy 1 or more items and we give 100% of the profits back to the cause. Learn more about their mission and products by clicking here.
• Pura Vida Bracelets - maybe you're looking to gift small or add a little something to stockings...consider purchasing a bracelet that supports a cause close to your gift recipients heart. From their site: Giving back has always been core belief at Pura Vida, which is why we started the Charity Collection. Since the beginning, we have partnered with over 190 different charities around the world and have donated more than $1,500,000 to causes we believe in. At Pura Vida, we dream to do more, which is why we’re always on the lookout for new charities that can benefit from this collection. Check out their list of charities to find just the right bracelet. Learn more about their mission and products by clicking here.

A quick Google search brought up this list of over 30 charitable companies - click here. And some of the same companies appear on this list. And another list here.  We'd love to know some of your favorite companies and organizations that are part of this idea of giveback gifting!

Simplify Your Gifting, Part 1

This week's gifting ideas are all about small businesses and shopping local.

Look at your gifting list and see if any of the items can be purchased locally from a local artist or maker. I'm going to guess that you live in a community with at least one small business that is locally owned...you may even know the owner. Why not support them during the holiday shopping season when lots of others are flocking to the big box stores or shopping online?

Shopping locally could mean purchasing some items that are a little outside the box. (I have a whole separate post about this, but you can always come back and reference this when we get to that week ;) ) We may not live in the same community, but use this post as a guide for you to consider similar ideas for the people on your gifting list. Think of the small businesses in your community and how you can incorporate them into your gift buying this year.

Small business/local shopping ideas:

• local candy shop - We have a gourmet popcorn shop in our town and I've been gifted with some of their popcorn before and it's AMAZING! Gifts like this can be kind of expensive, so this could be a nice little treat for someone. This is a consumable gift which means after it's been enjoyed there is no need to find a place to store it long term.
• local coffee shop/eatery - Do you have a coffee lover in your life? Treat them with some fresh found coffee and s gift card to their local coffee shop. We consider it a treat to visit our local coffee shop and indulge in a speciality coffee and delicious pastry. If you're in our town, you'll want to stop by Joe Sippers. 
• local winery - We have a couple of wineries in our surrounding community. Why not treat someone with a bottle of a favorite or even a gift card...better yet, a bottle and a gift card. Sometimes gift cards/certificates to local businesses like this can be used towards special event nights. A nice bottle of wine is a perfect party hostess gift or an easy one to pick up for a office gift drawing. Our favorite is Tuscan Hills.
• local artisans - Local artists typically sell their work at other local businesses....stop in for a look and maybe grab their business card. You never know what they might have at home that's not available around town. Local art could be paintings, pottery, jewelry, homemade skincare products, etc. 
• Small business spotlight: 51 Woodworks - Do you have a writer or business person (or lover of pens) in your life? I have just the guy for you.  I'm giving a shout to a friend from high school in this post. I started following his woodworking page several months back and he does great work. He makes STUNNING custom ink pens from wood and/or resin.
  
  Seriously, he does beautiful work! Currently his work is found on Facebook on his page, 51 Woodworks. Click here to see some of his work.
• Small business spotlight: Lemondime- I found this artist at a artisan market a few years back and then started following her on Facebook. She makes pretty necklaces and does sales on her page...click here to visit Lemondime!
  
  One of the things I love about her work is that she uses her talent to inspire others with the pieces she makes. As a lover of words, these are some of my favorites.

When gifting this year, try marking some gifts off your list with local shops and small businesses.