Feminist Fare Friday: The Christmas Gift Guide Edition

Everyone's got one.

A Christmas Gift Guide that is.

I've got a few ideas that I hope you'll like, and that may make that someone special on your list very, very happy this coming Christmas morning.

So, without further ado, I am going to don my helper shopping elf hat, put on my sparkly shoes and get to it!

(Disclaimer: I have not received compensation for any of these recommendations, they are simply products/people/companies that I think are awesome.)


1. CanvasPop

CanvasPop is a Canadian company that will take any digital file (Instagram, Facebook photos, or from your camera/computer file) and make it into a brilliant piece of artwork for your walls. Get those great shots off your camera and Instagram feeds and display them on your walls. You can make a collage, do a tryptich of canvases, or think big and do a whole gallery wall or series of canvases. They even include the hanging hardware and those little bumper thingies with all of their canvases (it's the little things that make me such a fan). I have one huge wall in our Natural Urban Home that will soon be covered with 6 new canvases and I can't wait to see how it is going to look when they are all hung! And did I mention that their customer service is beyond exceptional? I had already received 3 of the canvases and while the quality of the printing and craftsmanship was excellent, I wasn't 100% satisfied with the size that I had ordered. I called them to see what could be done and within minutes, I had new proofs to approve, a small charge to my Paypal account and new canvases being reprinted for me, exactly as I want them!

If you use this link to order from CanvasPop you'll get a sweet little discount too!


2. Lostmy.Name

For the past few weeks I have been seeing the Facebook ads for this company popping up all over my timeline. I eventually clicked on it one day and it took me to the website where I discovered these super sweet personalized story books. 

I love that this is a company of dads (and an uncle), that they started this as a DIY project, and that they are making magic and memories for kids all over the world. I have ordered one for my daughter and one for my nephew and can't wait to see the look on their faces when they realize that the books are about them! And bonus feature for bilingual kids, you can also order the books in French, Spanish and Dutch. You've still got a few days to get your order in for Christmas as the cut-off date is December 9th. 


3. Salgado Fenwick

I have been a fan of this local #YEG company for years. They are one of the main reasons I visit our downtown Farmer's Market so often in the summer and because of those visits, The Consort and I have a nice little collection of their wearable art in our wardrobes. The two talented women behind Salgado Fenwick make t-shirts, sweatshirts, leggings and pillows featuring their original hand-drawn artwork. Everything is silkscreened in small batches right here in Edmonton, Alberta and sold online, at craft fairs, and at their newly opened brick and mortar store as well. I love that each season they create a new and limited edition collection and I know that I'll continue to add to ours as the years go by! Local, wearable, art - the trifecta of reasons to shop with them!

I call her Zena, eagle warrior.


4. BroBrick Soap

Last weekend I attended the Royal Bison Art & Craft Fair and stumbled upon these soaps. The Consort is a notoriously hard man to buy for, as he is always saying things like, "I don't need anything" and "Don't worry about me"... Why doesn't he understand that I LIKE TO GIVE GIFTS! Anywho.... the one thing he does like is soap, nice smelling, manly soap. And you can't get any more manly then these BROBRICKS. With names like Cedar & Beer, Barber Shop, and Leather Scrub and a tag line that says "Smack the Filth Off!", you really can't go wrong putting a few of these in your man-dude's stocking this year!

BroBrick Soaps


5. One Red Bead

My friend Mandy is an inspiration to me and many others as well. She is also one of the driving forces behind the India Nepal Yoga Project, a grassroots organization that is working to heal the wounds of trafficked girls and women in that part of the world. One of the missions of the INYP is to assist in the creation of sustainable means for the financial future of those effected by trafficking and HIV/AIDS. On her most recent trip in Nepal, Mandy had a dream one night about one red balloon. The next day, after some brainstorming with the INYP group and the residents of an HIV/Aids hospice, they came up with the idea that blossomed into ONE RED BEAD. 

One Red Bead

The red tibetan healing bead is crafted from yak bone and is representative of the precious girl, affected by the devastation that is human trafficking and HIV/AIDS. Not only do the women feel a sense of pride and purpose in hand-crafting these wonderful bracelets, but the bracelet itself offers awareness, hope and support. 100% of the profit from the sale of these bracelets goes directly to help those living with HIV/AIDS and girls rescued from trafficking. This is the kind of giving that truly makes Christmas wonderful. Give a beautiful gift to someone you love and give the gift of hope to a girl or woman a world away. Order HERE. 


There you have it folks.

The 2014 Stay at Home Feminist Christmas Gift Guide!

Now, go get that shopping done so that everything arrives in time.

Merry, Happy!

Natasha*  

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Wordless Wedne... Um Thursday.

OK fine, I am just too darn tired to actually write a whole bunch tonight. I just got back from a block party meeting. Which means that, YES, I am finally making some friends in our new neighbourhood! For both me and the kids! And I can't wait for the party! It is going to be so much fun! {Okay, THAT is a whole lot of exclamation points. I MAY have had some wine at the meeting.}

Today was spent at the Edmonton Fringe Festival with my sister and her kids, and although it was an overcast day, the cousins all had a blast together!!

Our favourite street performers where the incredibly fun and cute twin sister act, The Kif-Kif Sisters from Quebec City. My favourite part of the act may have been the giant balloon boobies, but the kids loved when the sisters actually started to put their whole bodies INSIDE the balloons!

 

 

And then of course you have THESE two little toddler upstagers, totally trying to steal the show from the performers on the stage! They were even taking bows when the crowd was clapping. I was somewhat embarrassed, but also kind of proud of their first street performance as well!

 

And I got to hang out with my favourite little man who is growing so fast and just LOVES to talk to himself when we are taking self-portraits!

It was a good {long} day and again, I am going to aim to get to bed before midnight tonight.

Till tomorrow Mamas!

Natasha~

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Day 23 of the Summer Blog Challenge.

I am using PicMonkey.com to edit all of my photos, you should check it out! So easy and FREE!

Go and show some love to my fellow bloggers tonight.

Zita at The Dulock Diaries.

Meaghan at MagzD Life

April at This Mom’s Got Something to Say

Aramelle at One Wheeler’s World

 Jessica at 2plus2X2

and Liam at In the Now

 

 

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We are home.

Two full weeks in and it is official.

We made cookies.

Click here for the awesome recipe we used and yes, I have Appletini colored countertops!

We organized the new Play Room!

STUVA system from IKEA.

We christened the new appliances! (Not like THAT! Minds out of the gutters Mamas!)

Little C has taken it upon himself to be my official laundry sorter. (I win!!) AND I may be slightly in love with both my new washer/dryer and also having my laundry room on the main floor!

We walk the dog HERE every day!

This is literally steps from our front door. Ravine living FTW!!

And we flipped the switch and had our first evening by the very modern fireplace.

THIS is our home!

Our beautiful, dream come true, Natural Urban Home!

Natasha~

 

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Wordless Wednesday. Flashback. 2 years ago.

 

Evolution of Sibling Love.....

 

(I have a post brewing in my head, and it needs more time. I promise WAY more words for you tomorrow!! ~Natasha)

 

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Summer Blog Challenge posts for August 17, 2011

 

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Wordless Wednesday: Babywearing Photos!

Welcome to The Breastfeeding Cafe Carnival! This post was written as part of The Breastfeeding Cafe's Carnival. For more info on the Breastfeeding Cafe, go to www.breastfeedingcafe.wordpress.com. For more info on the Carnival or if you want to participate, contact Claire at clindstrom2 {at} gmail {dot} com. Today's post is Wordless Wednesday: Babywearing Photos! Please read the other blogs in today's carnival listed below and check back for more posts July 18th through the 31st!



Here are more posts by the Breastfeeding Cafe Carnival participants! Check back because more will be added throughout the day.

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