Holiday Gift Guide: Giving to those in Need

To kick off this week's Christmas Gift Guides, I wanted to highlight some fantastic charities and organizations to give back to. Of course we all have family and friends to buy gifts for, but another really special way to give is by touching someone else's life, even if it's just in a small way. I'm constantly reminding myself of how I need to volunteer more of my time and just get involved in something - there are so many people and places that need help! Whether it's a small (or large) donation, a new doll for a little girl, your time in a soup kitchen or shelter...every little bit counts and helps make this world a little better. I heard this quote by Mother Teresa the other day and that really got me thinking about helping others, "If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other." It feels so good to give to others in need, doesn't it? Even if we ourselves don't have much, there's always something we can give. I've rounded up several great organizations for you check out; (and if you're ever curious about a certain organization, check with CharityNavigator.org to make sure they're legitimate). What ways do you enjoy giving back? And please feel free to share the name / info on any charity you enjoy working with :) xoxo

 

Angel Tree offers assistance to prison inmates and their children during Christmas. They give the children gifts on behalf of the parents along with a personal message.

Samaritan's Purse - There are numerous ways to get involved, including Blessing in a Box / Operation Christmas Child, Crisis and Disaster Response, Children's and Medical Ministries and more. Go here to view a list of all ways you can give.

Wounded Warrior Project - Their mission is to "Honor and Empower Wounded Warriors. An amazing organization that vows to take care of our injured soldiers and their families.

Salvation Army -  There are several ways to give through the Salvation Army, including giving online to your community, donating clothing, volunteering and more.

All Hands Volunteers - They are focused on being the most effective organization at providing committed volunteers the opportunity to give immediate and sustainable help to communities in need and to those suffering in the wake of natural disasters. Right now they are focusing heavily on the victims of Hurricane Sandy.

Best Friends Animal Society - Don't forget about our furry friends! I love animals so much (especially cats :) and enjoy donating to charities that take care of them. This organization has a "no kill" mission and is dedicated to placing abandoned and needy animals in good homes. One great way to help is by becoming a "Guardian Angel" - click here for more info.

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[IMAGE SOURCES: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4]

Reader Giveaway! Win a $100 Gift Certificate to Novica

Let's face it, we all love shopping and buying shiny new things for our homes and wardrobes, especially when we can make those purchases with the click of a mouse, right? Well if you enjoy shopping and giving back, then you're really going to love the online store Novica! In association with National Geographic, Novica allows you to purchase unique, hand-made items from across the globe while supporting talented artisans grow their business, share their talent, and ultimately build better lives. "I give thanks to Novica for the significant change it has made in my life. Before, we were living with a mattress on the floor, and now we have a comfortable and pleasant new home. I'm very happy to have been able to pay for the schooling of my three children and the comfort of my family," says Cesar Gonzales, one of the many artisans who have been able to change their life through Novica's outstanding program. They have thousands of beautiful items for sale - from home decor and furniture to jewelry, handbags and much more. This shop is especially perfect if you're looking for unique gift ideas for Christmas (which is right around the corner!). The best part: Novica is giving away a $100 Gift Certificate to one lucky reader! For details on how to enter, read on...

"We want to give artists and artisans around the world a global platform to express their true artistic talents and to spur their creativity. And, we want to provide you with access to unique, hard-to-find items at great values that only the Internet infrastructure can allow."

[Some of my top picks...clockwise from top left: Mercury Sculpture; Star of Love Mirror; Copper & Bronze Vase; Cedar & Leather Accent Table]

[Rose Petals, oil, acrylic & paper on canvas]

[I have my eye on that chunky turquoise ring! Clockwise from top left: Taxco Moon Turquoise Cocktail Ring; Loopy Bullhorn Cuff Bracelet; Sunny Icicles Chalcedony Earrings; Lucky Horseshoe Ebony & Sterling Silver Necklace]

["Confetti" Handmade Glass Champagne Flutes]

Novica is a also a great resourse for accessories, women's accessories, cufflinks, women's scarves, wool scarves and walking sticks!

HOW TO ENTER TO WIN A $100 SHOPPING SPREE TO NOVICA...

1. Visit Novica's website and browse around their fabulous store

2. Come back and leave a comment on what you'd love to spend your gift certificate on if you win

3. Anonymous comments will not be accepted, UNLESS you leave your email address or contact info!

4. Contest open to both US & international readers :)

5. Winner will be announced on Tuesday, November 1st

Good Luck & Thanks for Participating! 

**** THIS GIVEAWAY IN NOW CLOSED ****

Good Shepherd Charity Design Project: Day #1

Yesterday 10 designers, including myself, kicked off the second round of room renovations for the Good Shepherd Women's Shelter charity design project. Each designer has 30 days to complete their room - we're talking everything from paint, light fixtures, furniture, linens, art, rugs and drapery panels. My husband and I spent a good portion of the day tearing off baseboards, removing the existing furniture, and taping and priming the walls. We got quite a bit accomplished on our first day! Here's a sneak peek of my room and what I have to work with...more to come as we make progress!

 {Ready to get my hands dirty!}

 {The room is a corner unit with 2 windows so there's a lot of natural light - a definite plus! The existing desk, lamp and cork board were removed}

 {The only thing we can't change is the flooring, which are hideous old linoleum floor tiles in a salmon color...I'll definitely be using a large area rug!}

 {Sink / vanity area - I'm planning on hanging a mirror & switching out the light fixture, among other things!}

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For more info on this project, please visit the GS Charity Project Blog & The Good Shepherd Center website

Deserving Design Makeover by Robert & Cortney Novogratz

This inspiring story was brought to my attention recently, which involves two of my favorite things: a makeover and giving back to those in need. Interior Designers Robert and Courtney Novogratz of SixxDesign recently completed a $50,000 school makeover in Orlando, Florida for a school that needed serious help. Their mission was to create a well-designed, organized and inspirational space for a K-5 public school, who were the winners of a nationwide contest sponsored by Bounty. "Winegard Elementary could not be more deserving of this transformation. Thanks to Bounty's commitment to providing children with creative, clean learning environments, we will be able to transform these classrooms to reflect the true spirit of the school," says Bob Novogratz, designer and Bounty spokesperson. "Consulting with our 'experts,' a.k.a. our seven children, we know the needs schools face and our hope is to help take the load off of these teachers so they can focus on what's most important, our kids' education." It looks like "mission accomplished" with the end result! What a fun, fresh and innovative environment for children to learn, create and flourish in their skills and talents! To learn more about Bounty and the "We Love Our School" campaign, visit www.Facebook.com/Bounty.

{IMAGE CREDITS: MATTHEW WILLIAMS}

Help...

IMAGE DESIGNED BY JULIE THIGPEN

It's been one week since the devastating earthquake and subsequent massive tsunami struck Japan. My heart goes out to the people of Japan and the survivors of this horrific tragedy. Today I made a donation to the Red Cross to support their disaster relief efforts to help those affected by this crisis. I'd like to urge you to do the same if you can...every bit helps. And I'm a big believer in the power of prayer! If you are too, I urge you to to keep on praying for the country, the victims and their families. Visit the Red Cross website for information on ways to donate. You can also go here for details on how to receive a super cool poster in exchange for your donation of $25 or more. And if there's an organization that you'd like to share with us, please leave a comment with the info.& website. Thank you for your prayers and support. I wish you all a safe and happy weekend. xoxo - Julie

Charity Project: Good Shepherd Women's Shelter

I'm so excited to share with you an amazing project that I'm blessed to be a part of. Project manager and organizers, Vanessa De Vargas and Vanessa Kogevinas, have recruited 20 designers in the LA area (myself included) to design and furnish 20 rooms at the Good Shepherd Center in Los Angeles, a center for homeless woman and children. The units we'll be working on serve as temporary housing to help women of all ages get back on their feet.  This project is 100% pro-bono and we're all volunteering our time and resources to make it happen. Please visit the official Charity Design Project blog for more information and ways you can help (such as gift card donations to home stores, etc). Additionally, if you are a vendor or designer in the industry and have any furniture, lighting, accent pillows, fabric, wall paper, wall decals, etc. that you'd like to donate, please visit the project blog as well for details.{All donations will be provided with a tax deductible receipt}. And feel free to spread the word via twitter, facebook, etc! I'm looking forward to getting started and promise to keep you updated on the progress of my room design over the next couple months! If you have any questions, you can also email me direct at julie[at]modernchichome[dot]com. (BEDROOM IMAGE CREDIT ABOVE VIA)

Inspiring Women Entrepreneurs

Meet Rebecca Kousky, Founder of Nest, a non-profit online boutique that works to empower female artists and artisans around the world. Using a unique combination of interest-free microfinance loans, mentoring from established designers, as well as a market in which to sell their crafts, Nest helps its loan recipients create successful small businesses. Nest instills pride of ownership, preserves ancient artistic traditions and successfully moves women from poverty to self-sufficiency.

Just two weeks after receiving her masters degree in social work, Rebecca took a huge leap of faith and started Nest. She says it was a huge risk to take but it has definitely paid off. Just one and a half years later, the site features clothing, jewelry and home decor items from more than
80 designers and has loaned funds to 55 aspiring business women and artists across the world. The loan recipients, who all live in poverty-stricken areas, then repay their debt by selling their wares through the Nest boutique. "Our business model is unique," Rebecca says, "in that we try hard to be more than just a bank. We make an effort to learn about the women we work with, about their dreams and hopes and family lives."

PHOTO CREDITS: COUNTRY LIVING & NEST.COM

Mar Y Sol Handbags

Mar y Sol is a socially & environmentally responsible company that markets handmade handbags from Madagascar & Kenya. They offer a beautiful variety of handbags, clutches, zip-pouches and more...all hand crafted by very talented local artisans!

"Our handbags blend the traditional weaving talents & contemporary techniques of our partner artists & designers who work together to create colorful & unique products from renewable materials. The sale of our products enables families to gain economic independence & generates funding for community development projects. Mar Y Sol is a fair trade company."

I'm head-over-heels for this amazing company - not only for what they sell, but the whole philosophy behind their product and the difference they're making in peoples lives. It almost makes shopping feel guilt-free because it's supporting a good cause :)

FROM "THE GIRLS" COLLECTION

FROM THE "ESCAPE" COLLECTION

NEW FOR FALL 2009

Click here to view the entire shop and all of the beautiful products they offer. They also have a fantastic SALE section you don't want to miss!

I also want to acknowledge this day, September 11th, and encourage every American to pause for a moment to remember and honor the fallen of that horrific day. May God bless our country and our soldiers who are still on the frontlines fighting a global war on terror to not only protect our freedoms, but the freedoms and human rights of others around the world.