it's beginning to look a lot like shopping...

If you're buying presents for people this year, please do all the crunchy squishy annoying stuff like buying local and fairly and remember your wallet speaks louder than your words.

Long time readers know my spending credo, which sort of goes out the door this time of year.
Where could this money be better spent?  Saved?
Who is this money going to?  Who is the vendor?  Where will she spend her money?  Who does she hire?  Where is her shop?  What does she support?  What does her landlord support?  Who is the manufacturer?  Where do they get their ingredients or parts?  Who do they hire?  Where do they spend their money?  What are their emissions practices?  Shipping practices?  Packaging guidelines?  Which organizations do they support?  Where is my money going?  Is it worth it?  Is my spending breaking my moral code?  Does 2% of my purchase support something I hate? 

Need a few places to spend guilt free?
Here you go.  Of course all these people are my friends and I would never dream of taking payment for these endorsements, but please take the time to check out the following:


Etsy is always a great place to find handmade things.
The Froggy Bog gorgeously cute paintings to hang in your home and custom headers for your website.  Also, you can ask Jen to paint something amazing for you and she'll do it.
Revel Baby cloth diapering, fingerless gloves, bibs, hotsy coldsy bags, and other cute stuff for babies and moms and kids and ladies.  And gentlemen.  Sometimes.  Handmade and repurposed stuff sewn up with love by Pamela.
Live Simply custom made photo blocks for babies and home decor.  Michelle isn't taking Christmas orders anymore, but this stuff is great year round.  
Twining Vines has really cool metal jewelry and accessories, including a few that have proceeds going to PKD research.  I'm a sucker for copper jewelry, and Leigh's is amazing.
Peppermint Pink Revamped has amazing repurposed and vintage things that make me want to throw a garden party and Ditzy Redhead has little treasure boxes and ornaments and waycool religious stuff that isn't churchy or preachy in the least bit.  The Ditzy Redhead was responsible for my Sookie Stackhouse obsession, so who knows what she can hook you into!

Need your picture taken? Check out Nicole K Photography.   Plus I know she can do all sorts of cool stuff with pictures and teach you how to be almost as good a photographer as she is.

Like yoga? playing? art? peace? love? Do you live in the Philadelphia area? Check out PLAY in West Chester.  All sorts of classes and groups and activities and parties every day.  Plus Amy is super adorable.


Don't forget about eBay!  Check out the jewelry at Kindred Spirit.  Back in the olden days before people sold stuff on the internet, I spent hours and hours and dollars and dollars at Kindred Spirit, which is how I met Cindy, the owner.


Last but not least, take a look at the card game that Susannah has come up with.  It's not a normal deck of cards, but a way to learn about yourself and someone you love in a fun and different way.  Susannah also teaches and practices Reiki, is a life coach, and holds workshops for women and coaches.  


Do you have a store online?  If I didn't mention it, I'm sorry.  I did this post off the top of my head.  Please mention it in the comments and I'll amend the post to include your business!


I'll be back here soon.  I promise.  I think.  
I've been busy.  Happy, healthy, and busy.