Christmas Shopping | The Healthy Beauty Project -by Todra Payne

by Keri Lehmann

Well, I did it again. Year after year, I tell myself that I am not going to wait until Christmas Eve to do my shopping. And year after tedious year, I find myself up all night Christmas Eve, watching A Christmas Story marathon, drinking something hot and wrapping gifts that will be ravaged in a matter of a few hours. I’ve even busted Santa a few times-he’s pretty cool about it, though- he usually just works around me…

But this year, I was determined to make a change in my procrastinating habits. I tried to imagine how other (organized) people prepare for the holidays: I looked at the sales ads on Thanksgiving afternoon, sort of guessed what my loved ones would want, didn’t really have a detailed plan, and headed up to The Walmart at 9:30 pm on Thanksgiving night to make the pre-Black Friday sales. That’s how an organized person would do it, right?

When I got to the girls’ clothes section, and saw a woman crying to a Police officer that another shopper was crossing the imaginary barrier to the $7 Wrangler jeans, I knew I was out of my league. At 10 pm, a clerk blew a whistle and people started screaming and dog-piling the griddles and toasters, and Ninjas (the blender kind) became projectile. One woman pegged her teen daughter right in the forehead with a set of Rubbermate storage containers. It wasn’t pretty. But they WERE on sale.

I was out of the store by 10:10 pm. It took me that long to maneuver my way to the exit.

So now, just days before Christmas, I have decided to get a move on. But this year, instead of shopping the local sales for people who already have everything they want and need, I have decided to give gifts with a bit more intent. Thanks to Facebook and Twitter, people are posting and tweeting sites and organizations where one can purchase gifts and gift cards that benefit others in need, and excitingly, some of the options are extremely useful to the receiver!

Here are a few of the brilliant organizations that I have selected to support this season:

• Advent Conspiracy/ Living Water International: This is an organization that drills and repairs water wells for third world nations- they let you purchase gift cards in various denominations that allow the receiver to go online and choose the specific country and community of people who will benefit from the donation.  http://www.water.cc/store/christmas-gift-cards?q=store/christmas-gift-cards. Many of my customers will be receiving these in their shipments. I love them.
• Just Love Coffee Roasters: This REALLY YUMMY organization roasts and retails Fair Trade, organic coffee, and through its “Share the Love” initiative, donates a portion of its proceeds to adopting families, non-profit organizations, and the arts. When you make a purchase, you get an email indicating where your donation was spent. Plus, the coffee is Ahhhhhh-mazing! Seriously. Ok, I did keep one of the bags for myself…it was for research purposes only… https://justlovecoffee.com/

• Whole Foods Market 2012 Calendar: For only $3 at the market checkout counter, you can contribute to the entrepreneurship of impoverished people, particularly women, in third world nations. Whole Planet Foundation has created a calendar, and donates all of the sales proceeds toward benefiting microcredit clients who are starting their own businesses. Like! Like! Like! I’m all over that one! Plus, you get a calendar with pics of a bunch of talented, beautiful entrepreneurs and more than $20 worth of coupons inside. http://www.wholeplanetfoundation.org/ or pick it up at your local WFM counters.
• Hello Somebody: With the purchase of a hip, colorful watch, your money is sent directly to a group in Rwanda who apply the funds toward scholarships for 100 street boys who receive education and two meals a day. You can learn about the boys and the organization at http://hello-somebody.com/, plus, the watches are really cool. I got one for myself in gray.
• Anything Fair trade certified: When you purchase Fair Trade certified products, it means that not only were the laborers paid a fair wage, but were also working in safe conditions, and a portion of the sale of the item you bought is donated back into the Fair Trade system, providing education, interest- free loans, and business training to the community of people affected. I call it a double portion. You can call it Making a Difference. http://www.transfairusa.org/

Merry Christmas! Shop on!

Keri Lehmann is a licensed cosmetologist who used her knowledge of skin care to create a line of body care products made with REAL ingredients that the body recognizes and knows what to do with…Savvy Bohème: Welcome to the Most Authentic Moisturizing Event of Your Day.

Model photo by Photostock