Balts' Bountiful Blessings

We spend so much for gifts on the holidays, why not spend some of it to help some great causes.

UPDATED....There are so many occasions throughout the year to buy gifts, birthdays, anniversary's, mini holidays such as valentines day, why not still shop with purpose.

Back to Africa. The Back to Africa (BTA) Project is focused on providing a fair wage to vulnerable widows, orphans, and refugees (our partners) in communities throughout Africa.

I LOVE their jewelry!! I can't wait to buy another piece! I bought one at a booth at the Created for Care conference but there is one that I really really want so... :)

http://backtoafrica.myshopify.com/

Project HOPEFUL. They seek to provide faith, loving families, and a future to children living with HIV/AIDS and other special needs. And the Adopt(ed) shirts go to support adoptions for those who volunteer with Project HOPEFUL.

I want one SOOO bad! Super cute!!

http://www.projecthopeful.org/shop

Funky Fish designs. The woman that makes these beautiful creations also volunteers for Project HOPEFUL. Her jewelry helps support great causes. Last year my hubby bought me two of her necklaces for Christmas and I LOVE them!! This year I have my eye on a bracelet. :) Go, check them out and do some Christmas shopping.

http://www.funkyfishdesigns.com/apps/webstore/

Apparent Project. Some of you may remember that I sent cereal boxes to The Apparent Project in Haiti. What did they do with them? They made jewelry. You can buy their creations.

The Apparent Project was birthed out of a desire to see impoverished Haitian men and women be able to raise their children with dignity and not have to consider giving their children to orphanages because of poverty. It can cost as little as $50 a month to keep a family intact.

-- from Apparent Project

http://www.apparentproject.org/

Sseko. This past March I was able to finally buy a pair of Sseko's. Awesome company and super cute sandals. They can be tied in sooooo many different ways. They are a company based in Uganda and they provide employment for women. LOVE! :)
Sseko Designs uses fashion to provide employment and scholarship opportunities to women pursuing their dreams and overcoming poverty.

There may be literally over 100 ways to tie these sandals. SOOO cute!

http://shop.ssekodesigns.com/home.php

147Million. Anyone read Kisses from Kate or know of Katie Davis?? Some of her very good friends started 147 million orphans. Their products help so many.

During this past year, 147 Million Orphans focused on its Mission by:
1. Providing over 100,000 meals for children in Uganda
*Helping to build water wells in Ethiopia and Honduras
*Providing funding for HIV education and medicine
*Giving funds to ministry partners in the United States, Ethiopia, Haiti, China and Honduras
to provide meals for children
2. Selling over 20,000 products to raise awareness and ignite discussion about the orphan crisis
3. Partnering with over 200 adoptive families as they fundraiser for their adoptions, both
domestically and internationally.

http://www.147millionorphans.com/

Amazima. Amazima is the organization that Katie Davis started and she is doing amazing things in Uganda! Tim and I were able to visit her Saturday program and no money either given to Amazima or used to buy their products is wasted. She loves the people in Uganda and she lovingly serves them in so many ways. Buy her book, "Kisses from Katie" (I highly recommend the book) or go to this website and purchase the necklaces that the women in her village make.

http://www.amazimastore.org/

Batik Boutique. If you know someone having a baby check out The Batik Boutique. They have nursing covers, slings, bags and more. Check them out.

The Batik Boutique aims to make a difference in people’s lives.

We employ single moms as well as others who are struggling to make ends meet.
We give a portion of our proceeds directly to needs in our community.
We are constantly seeking additional ways to contribute to the practical needs of those around us

http://thebatikboutique.net/products-page/

Open Arms. For cute skirts and scarves visit Open Arms. Handmade Scarves and Skirts from 100% Recycled Materials. Made in the USA by refugee women resettled in Austin, TX! This scarf is just one of the many things on their webiste.

yes please!!

http://www.theopenarmsshop.com/category_s/46.htm

Noonday...you have got to go check them out. They have so many cute things! (several of which I have on my Christmas list!) This patchwork journal is just one of the many super cute things on their website. (LOVE these!! :) )

http://www.noondaycollection.com/

TOMS. One for one. Toms gives a new pair of shoes to a child in need for every pair you buy. They have also branched out into apparel and sunglasses. This summer I bought a pair of TOMS heels and I have to say they are the most comfortable heels I have ever worn!! I wore them shopping and traveling (running around airports) and my feet never got sore. They were great! I'm sold on their heels!!

These are new and I LOVE them!! They are going on my Christmas wish list! :)

http://www.toms.com/

Headbands for Hope

For every headband purchased, one is given to a girl with cancer and $1 is donated to the St. Baldrick's Foundation to fund life-saving childhood cancer research. Such CUTE headbands!! They would also make great stocking stuffers!!

http://www.headbandsofhope.org/collections/all

Somaly Mam. The Somaly Mam Foundation is a nonprofit charity committed to ending modern day slavery in North America and around the world. Founded by sexual slavery survivor Somaly Mam, the Foundation works to eradicate human trafficking, liberate its victims, and empower survivors so they can create and sustain lives of dignity. The Foundation supports survivor rescue, shelter, recovery, and empowerment programs globally, with a special focus on Southeast Asia, where the sex trafficking of women and children is a widespread practice.

silk necklaces

http://www.empowermentstore.org/

31 Nuggets of Hope
Do you know an adoptive or foster mom that needs encouragement? Check out this awesome resource.
Help spread hope and support adoption.

A book of enouragment

love the necklace

http://www.31nuggetsofhope.com/ordering.html

IMANI
We seek to free women from the global sex trade and alleviate poverty through healing, empowerment, and fashion design.We partner with women escaping the sex trade to create jewelry which is handmade from indigenous materials. All jewelry is hand-crafted in northern Uganda and women receive fair trade wages, which empower them to provide for their families and educate their children. Imani also offers trauma counseling, savings and business classes, and English classes to all the women we employ in an effort to see them reach their potential.

http://www.imanilove.com/

Wild Olive Tee

At Wild Olive, we are passionate about spreading God’s word and building His Kingdom on earth through generous giving and effective stewardship of the resources that He entrusts to us. As a trio of adoptive moms, we are also passionate about adoption and orphan care. To this end, our company actively supports two Christian organizations that are near and dear to our hearts; organizations that seek to help these children live higher-quality, more spiritually-filled lives. Specifically, Wild Olive donates 10% of the profits from sales of its products to An Orphan’s Wish in China, Sixty Feet in Uganda and Eyes Wide Open International in Haiti.

These tee's are so comfy and so cute!

I have this in long sleeves and so cute!

I have this in short sleeve's and its so soft and comfy!

http://store.wildolivetees.com/storefront.aspx

Orphan Wares feeds street children in Kampala, Uganda. I've met street children in Uganda and this is such a great ministry!!

http://www.orphanwares.com/

Luz Divina Designs
This shop on etsy is donating proceeds of certain jewelry to Project HOPEFUL. This is AWESOME!! :) (see above to see what Project HOPEFUL does).

http://www.etsy.com/shop/luzdivinadesign?section_id=12592739

SERRV
SERRV is a nonprofit organization with a mission to eradicate poverty wherever it resides by providing opportunity and support to artisans and farmers worldwide. They have a very wide variety of items.

Organic coffee for all you coffee drinkers

They have so many things on this website. You have to check them out.
http://www.serrv.org/category/shop

World Vision. You can sponsor a child or buy a gift for someone who really needs it. Last year our kids picked out some goats and chickes to give. If you have kids they have so much fun going over everything and choosing something to bless someone.

http://donate.worldvision.org/OA_HTML/ibeCZzpHome.jsp?a=b

Ekisa. Finally, if you just need to donate some money before the end of the year for a tax deduction, or are feeling generous and want to give to a GREAT organization, please please please please please consider Ekisa. Ekisa is a home for orphaned children with special needs. Many of these special needs require a great deal of medication or medical help that is costly. I would not recommend this place if I had not seen first hand the awesome work they do. The women that started Ekisa really do love these children and provide them a home. I cannot say enough how AWESOME this place is!!! EVERY child is a gift from God and deserves love and a home and these women live that belief daily. Please please please please please consider giving to them.

This is just one of the precious children at Ekisa. How can you resist??? He is so stinkin cute!! Make a difference and donate! Even the smallest amount can do SO much in Uganda!!

http://www.ekisa.org/

School has started and things are busier than ever! You would think that with 3 children in school I would have more time not less. Don't quite know how that happened.

Ellie started 2nd grade at Liberty Prep. She loves school and I love Liberty Prep and I'm learning to love the homeschool days also. :)

The boys started Pre-K at Longcreek Elementary. Do they look thrilled?? Zander told me that he was going to refuse to go to school and Connor was more nervous than anything else. He was excited to go (especially after he saw his classroom and met his teacher), but he was nervous the first day. It only took one day for them to love school. They have so much fun! Zander still has some delays in speech and some other areas and because of that they both (if there is a twin, they automatically get in) got into the pre-K program. It is everyday. I think the hardest part for them is getting up at 6:50am. I know that is not early for some, but in this house, it is EARLY! Still trying to adjust.

Just having Madison at home as been so different. She is so quite. She is also missing her brothers and sister very much! Madison has always had Zander and Connor around to play with and the three of them are so cute sometimes. But this year, with Ellie having homeschool days Wednesday and Friday's, Madison and Ellie have been getting closer and playing together a lot more. Madison wants to be just like her big sister and she follows her everywhere on homeschool days. :)