My favorite time of the year!!!

If you know me at all, you know that I love holidays. I love Thanksgiving and Christmas specifically because that is when my family is all together. It's definitely different to be celebrating Thanksgiving here in Peru away from my family. But it was nice to spend the day with the Bukta family and just have that sense of home and family, even if it wasn't quite the same.We did the traditional "go around the table and say what you're thankful for" conversation like most families do. We all laughed a lot. I said that I was thankful for a lot of things -- my family, my boyfriend and his family, my internship here in Peru, my internship financial partners and prayer warriors, my education at LCU and life in general. I have been beyond blessed this year by so many people, in so many ways. 

With the holiday season upon us, it's obviously that time of year where everyone starts buying Christmas presents and spending tons of money. I cannot lie... I love buying Christmas presents for my family. I always want to give at least one thing to each of my siblings, parents, and grandma. But the last couple of years, because we have gotten older and added to our family (my brother in law and niece), we have begun to do a name drawing for gifts. It's always fun to find out who gets who. And we always have a fun time sharing our gifts on Christmas day. This year we are doing the name drawing as usual. Except for me. Why you may ask? Well, I bought a gift for everyone from Peru. Part of it is because I always get a gift on my travels for everyone. Part of it is because I wanted everyone to have a Christmas present like always. So what better place to get them then Peru? 

A new idea for Christmas presents (although it's not very new... but it's just now finally to gain momentum and attention) is to buy presents through fair trade. What is fair trade you may ask? "Fair Trade is a tool for reducing poverty in developing nations. It's a form of trade that builds equitable and long-term partnerships between producers in developing regions of the world and consumers in the north (or west) (http://www.firstfairtradetownusa.org/fair-trade)." There are a ton of different ways to buy fair trade products. Almost all of my gifts (save only two or three) were bought from people whom I met that actually made the items themselves. I love so many of the things I bought and was so excited to actually get to meet and know the people who made them. And that made the gifts that much more special for me to give to my family. Fair Trade is an awesome thing that I am trying to learn more about and be more conscious of. And I really think it would be great for you to do the same. And definitely consider how you can change up your Christmas shopping by buying fair trade and making a difference. 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

Here are a couple of blogs and sites that have some ideas for Fair Trade shopping (just click on the picture to go to the sites). The first is one that I just found recently. I love the ideas that she gave. And the other is my friend Ashley and an event that she is putting together at her church, as well as an organization by her future father-in-law.

These 3 ideas are fantastic. And if I had the money, I would be buying all sorts of things for my friends and family. It's probably good that I don't have much to spend these days. :)

This is Ashley's event that she planned and put together, happening next month for those of you in the Illinois area. There are going to be a bunch of booths selling all sorts of things... clothing, jewelry, shoes, bags, food, etc. It's going to be awesome and I wish I could be there. :) 

This is ByTavi an organization started by my friend Ashley's soon to be father-in-law. These are gorgeous bags and scarves made by women in Cambodia. The proceeds go to the women themselves and helps them provide for their families. :)

*sidenote: I am getting a pair of handmade leather sandals made by one of our church leaders in Barrio 1A. They are gorgeous and I can't wait to wear them :)