A Little Bit About Me

I happen to believe you can learn a lot about a person by their surroundings. For example, you could sit down at my desk and learn several things you may or may not know about me. Such was my thought when I snapped this photo a few days ago.

First of all, you would learn that I love ordered chaos...translation: I know exactly what is in those piles and why it is there and no one better mess with it. 

 This is also a huge source of frustration for my family in our communal areas, but on my desk...the rule of law is, don't move anything.

But more deeply than this, I realized when I sat down a few days ago, that this little corner that I share with no one, is a microcosm of what is important to me.

First, this was a scrapbook desk. Preserving memories of our family is important, but I don't spend as much time on it as I could. So this has also become my study and writing desk.

This is where you get to my heart.

I started playing with a new app on my Kindle and this photo is the result. But here's what I want you to see: 

• The red rectangle surrounds some of my study books. If you know me, you know I delight in God's Word.
• The black oval surrounds three different cards from Fair Trade products I have purchased. To see their faces is to remind myself to spend ethically. Also, something dear to me.
• And the red arrow points to an index card with the name of the family we sponsor through A Heart for Korah. There are also two shells from South Africa on that card, one, that looks like Mt. Kilimanjaro. To know me is to know that the continent of Africa has a hold on me for some inexplicable reason.

So there you have it, a small window into my life.

What's on your desk? 

The City Flea- Cincinnati, Ohio

I've wanted to attend The City Flea ever since I first read about it last fall. Up until last night, I was still talking myself out of attending (no time, no money. You know...the usual). But when last night, in my Facebook feed an article from the Huffington Post popped up promoting it, I thought I'd better take advantage of going while the weather's nice and it's still a relatively small event.

Looks like I'm a little late on that "go when it's still small" plan.

But seriously...go. It's fun, there's lots of cute stuff, and the flea market is curated so you don't have to sift through all of the junk to find the goodies. Local food trucks line Washington Park sidewalks and lots of great restaurants are only a stone's throw away in the urban renewal of Over-the-Rhine. 

I went with the plan of not buying anything, but when you find the exact same company from which you bought your last purse, selling some of their bags for $30 less than you anticipated purchasing a replacement one for, since your original bag is starting to fall apart...yeah, there was no walking away from a $10 messenger bag that upcycles coffee bags and the proceeds go toward orphan care and adoption sponsorship.

Old bag on the top, newly purchased $10 bag on the bottom

As with any flea market, you never know what you may find, like "Creepy Baby Doll Photography's" booth.

We also had a chance to sample some delicious Fair Trade chocolate from Chocolats Latour. The rosemary, almond, and sea salt was definitely yummy. Abbey liked the "Cry Baby Bar" which included sundried tomatoes, smoked sea salt and pepitos. All of their dark chocolate was dairy free too!

But supporting local businesses and tradesman, in a beautiful setting on a day without a cloud in the sky? Absolutely.

And who knows? You just might have a chance to take some pictures of some of those unusual landmarks you drive by all the time and never have a chance to admire.

Reality Tuesday 2 Cafe': Hebron, Kentucky

My new favorite coffee shop not only serves Fair Trade coffee, delicious espresso drinks and yummy donuts and desserts...it is literally a five minute walk from my doorstep to theirs.

I am convinced this is the way we were meant to live (and how most everyone else in the world does, outside of the suburban U.S.). The ability to walk to the market or your local cafe' is something I greatly enjoy and Reality Tuesday 2 is worth the walk.

My commendation need go no further than to express that they have only been open a few months and I am already on my second frequent buyers' card. Yes...it is that good.

But more than the food and coffee, the staff are always friendly, knowledgeable and helpful in making selections. I've gotten to know more than one of the baristas on a first name basis and I know they like their "regulars".

Speaking of regulars, there's a group of ladies that I'm meeting with for Bible study this summer. Reality Tuesday 2 is graciously allowing us to meet there. For this, I am thankful.

I can't express adequately how much I really want this small business to succeed. I've even volunteered to take care of plants they should put on their patio to make it a wee bit more inviting. The owners are slowly adding to the facility (which is a shared space with the new Hebron campus for Lakeside Church) and it looks more welcoming every time I walk through the door. The reason I feel so strongly about their survival is because I've seen several businesses go in and out of these three strip malls closest to us, and with the exception of sports bars, most fail within a year or two. This little cafe' brings warmth, a relaxing environment and a place for non-liquor seeking folks to congregate and hang out with their friends...something very much needed on this four block area that houses 1 grocery, four take out pizza places, four family sit down restaurants, four fast food chains, two ice cream parlors, a take out wings joint, three sports bars and three liquor stores. Did you notice I said this was a four-block area?

If you're in the Hebron area and you're looking for some great coffee or just a nice place to hang out with a friend or to drink a cup of java and read a book for awhile...stop by and support a locally owned business that in turn supports Fair Trade. Trust me, you'll be glad you did...

And you just might see me there!

On the Sixth (& Fifth) Day of Christmas- Source Naturals Vitamin D3; Pet Pal

 

I knew when I started this series about My Favorite Things that I most likely couldn't keep up a post a day pace throughout the 12 Days of Christmas. Alas, yesterday I missed completing Day 5...so here it is along with the highly anticipated (I'm certain!) Day 6.

 

Day 5: Source Naturals Vitamin D-3 Liquid, 4 Fluid Ounce

Thanks to Rawganic Vegan, I stumbled across this treasure and purchased it on Amazon. From my limited research, apparently, if you live north of Atlanta, Georgia, it is impossible to get enough Vitamin D from natural sunlight for the months of September through March. I can readily believe this. I also know that most of us aren't outside enough even during the warm months to get adequate supplies.

 

This liquid supplement can easily be used in a cup of water, juice or a smoothie. I've done all three and only noticed a minimal taste in water. It's not unpleasant or bitter, just different. I don't even know how to describe it.

 

For information about Vitamin D deficiency, I found this informative article at Natural News. I hope you read the article because odds are you, or one of the people you know, suffer from one of the Top 10 maladies from a Vitamin D deficiency. It's also almost impossible to get this much-needed vitamin from food alone. It is synthetically added to milk and other products, but that form is not well metabolized by your body. You would have to eat two portions of fatty fish (salmon or mackerel) per day to get enough. Thus, my option became purchasing this supplement instead.

 

 

Day 6: This cute little elephant Pet Pal that my husband gave me for Christmas. He purchased it at It's Only Fair in Newport. I love that he knows me so well. He could have bought just about anything he wanted...and he chose to get me a meaningful gift that has a huge impact on the life of the lady who made it.

 

*I hope you'll indulge me for a moment longer as I became a bit overwhelmed at something God just did in the moment as I type this. This was not how I was expecting my simple blog post to end.*

 

Christmas morning when I opened this animal I was delighted and blessed to be joined to a man that cares about the things that matter to me. I immediately treasured this gift.

 

There were also three cards attached and a brochure that explained more about the purchase. (Yet another reason why I will continue to shop at It's Only Fair.) But that morning I didn't have my reading glasses on and told myself I'd read them later when I could give the information my full attention.

 

Life has been hectic since then with three days of travelling to see families and then catching up here at home. As I sat down to write this post, I grabbed the cards with the intention of reading them before writing about the gift. Here's what the first card says: "Anyango Anjella- Anjella is 36 years old with 4 children and 1 child that she takes care of for a total of 5. She was abandoned by her husband over 5 years ago and has been struggling to feed her children. Since being in the BU (Beyond Uganda) program, she has been able to send her children to school and her dream is to move out of the one room they live in and purchase a home. Your purchase today has helped Anjella get closer to that goal."

 

The second card says this: "Meet Awori Abigail. She is 13 years old & in Grade 4. Your animal is Handmade by Women in Uganda And This Beautiful Stuffed Animal will Provide A Brand New School Uniform for Awori Abigail At Mt.Zion Orphanage in Bugiri, Uganda."

 

Do you see it? Do you know me and know that my name is also Anjella (Angela)? Do you see that this orphan who will now have a new school uniform because of this little animal is named Abigail? ...the same name as my oldest daughter?

 

So while my husband bought me a cute little animal to give his Angela and also bought Haitian hand painted magnets for his Abigail and other three children...he was in turn providing food, clothing and shelter for another Anjella and Abigail half a world away that he may never meet this side of the fulfilled Kingdom.

 

Have I mentioned to you how much I absolutely LOVE Fair Trade?!!!

 

On the Third Day of Christmas- Equal Exchange Organic Chai Tea

My favorite thing to share today is Equal Exchange Organic Chai, 20-Count (Pack of 3). I am happy to share that I paid even less per box for this than the link above at It's Only Fair in Newport. 

However you choose to purchase it, if you're a tea drinker, look into buying this brand. Not only will you have a delicious tea to enjoy, but you can be confident that the farmers who grew the tea are being paid a fair wage. 

Next up, Source Naturals Vitamin B-12.

Previous "Favorite Things":

Day 1- Ancient Minerals Magnesium Spray

Day 2- Urban Farm Magazine

My Favorite Things

For some strange reason, every Christmas, The Sound of Music's song, "My Favorite Things" seems to get a lot of play. I guess it has something to do with the one line about "brown paper packages tied up with string." Regardless of why, it set me to thinking about a few of my own favorite things. I also thought maybe I could do a bit of a "Twelve Days of Christmas" series with it. Although I'm uncertain as to whether I can keep a blog a day pace for twelve straight...I do have at least a few items I've been wanting to share with you. 

Pictured above are the five that I didn't even have to think twice about. So...we'll see if I can do this. First post will follow shortly.

Follow Up on Our Fair Trade Expo Excursion- Lawrenceburg, Indiana

After about 45 minutes, I was able to thaw out our vehicle enough for us to drive over to southeastern Indiana today for a great event. I already have the date saved for next year too...it was that good. 

Community Fellowship Church hosts the annual event the first weekend in December. Much of their items come from a Festival Sales organization called Ten Thousand Villages. My new Bengal Nativity from Peru, the two bars of soap from India and my favorite purchase, the self-watering snail from Bangladesh (pictured in the pot in the photo above) are all from this organization that began in 1946.

But there were other ministries represented as well and one, Recyclo Craftz took time to tell us how she got started ministering to at-risk women in Zambia and how she barters with local tailors there for scraps of cloth for use in the projects. 

My favorite table was run by Pezulu Arts. Although I didn't buy anything from them at this time, I hope to in the future. If I'd been shopping just for myself, I would have picked up either one of their hand painted spoon rests or salt and pepper shakers. The artistry was amazing.

Divine Chocolate was also available. I've purchased this brand from It's Only Fair before and it is delicious. Finding out they have a mail order website is probably a dangerous thing!

I found this hand sewn bookmark for a gift from Amani Ya Juu, which means "higher peace" in Swahili. It was made by women in Nairobi, Kenya. I also found another gift, that I can't picture here from Trade as One.

Now that I've been to the Expo, I wish I would have organized a shopping trip with some of my friends. I think that's a good goal for next year. If you want to know why buying Fair Trade is becoming so important to me, watch the video at the Expo's website http://fightinghopelessness.org/

If what I buy for myself or as gifts for others can make a difference in someone's life, why wouldn't I choose to do that? If buying less so that I can spend more, and in turn support an individual, helping them to live self-sufficiently, instead of lining the pockets of corporate greed and devastation...isn't it not only ethically right...but also morally imperative to do so when I have the option? Knowing that my $18 for an adorable Nativity helps an artisan in Peru eat and have a warm place to sleep, is a good thing. I can't say that about every purchase I make, especially one's made at large discount stores like Wal-Mart, Target and other chains...so I'm thankful for Community Fellowship Church making an opportunity like this one available and introducing me to organizations from whom I can now purchase throughout the year.

International Fair Trade Expo- Lawrenceburg, Indiana

If you'd like to have an opportunity to shop Fair Trade and support local people who are trying to further such shopping experiences, consider going to the International Fair Trade Expo in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, Friday and Saturday December 6th and 7th.

More details can be found on their Facebook Page. My friend Marcia has been posting photos of lots of beautiful jewelry, chocolate, items for men and even contests from the event organizers for a few weeks now. 

Like me, are you tired of buying cheap junk that you and your family don't even need to begin with? Do the stories of the trampling and fighting on Black Friday just make you nauseated with disgust? Do you want your spending dollars to make a difference in the lives of those who make the items, instead of paying someone slave wages to keep your home knee deep in crap? Then join me in a little revolt and have a Fair Trade, buy local, support small businesses and give to charities Christmas. 

The true meaning of Christmas was the Messiah came to give us life, right? How about this Christmas we all start a tradition of doing the same for a change!

It's Only Fair- Newport, Kentucky

As part of Friday's Fair Trade Field Trip, after warming up at Carabello Coffee, we first stopped by the local St. Vincent de Paul store at 906 Monmouth Street

and I found some really cute, small plates for $0.50 each. They're made by Gibson and I think they match my mother-in-law's set. She does have good taste. The store may not be "Fair Trade", but any chance to upcycle, recycle, or repurpose is pretty great too.

Just down the block lay our intended target, "It's Only Fair" (911 Monmouth Street, Newport). We met the owner (has that ever happened at Wal-Mart?) She asked how we heard about the store, and what ensued was a pleasant, albeit brief, conversation about some of the items, where they are from and her travels to see first-hand the ministries and organizations that are making a difference in the lives of orphans, trafficked women and children and people who are at risk for exploitation.

It's a small store, filled with hundreds of beautiful items. There is clothing, beautiful scarves, jewelry, handbags, wallets and more. My younger girls each had a little allowance money they wanted to spend and they felt really good supporting children in Nicaragua and a non-profit from Thailand. I found some yummy Fair Trade chocolate and Fair Trade chai tea. Even her shopping bags are made from recycled newspaper and made by at-risk children in India.

If you're interested in visiting It's Only Fair (which I highly urge you to do!), I make the following two suggestions: 

• Like her Facebook Page because the hours are different for each day, and
• leave small children at home. There is not a lot of room for strollers and chasing little ones amongst all of the items, might be a challenge. Use your own judgment though.

As an added head's up, be aware that some street parking in this area is limited to 15 minutes. Free street parking can be found though and was widely available during our noontime adventure. All of us women left with the anticipation of returning again soon. The young man...well, maybe some day.

Carabello Coffee, Newport, Kentucky

This was my caramel latte'. Almost too pretty to drink! Almost.

Our first stop on our Fair Trade Field Trip today was Carabello Coffee in Newport. Carabello is the same company that supplies Velocity Bike and Bean in Florence. They've now opened their own shop.

I had a caramel latte', Noah and Rebekah both had hot chocolate and Leah had a gourmet apple cider popsicle. Everything was delicious, including the homemade salted caramel placed next to my latte'. Carabello has a great story about starting with a commitment to purchase directly from the farmers that grow the coffee.

To quote their Facebook page, they are a "philanthropic artisan coffee roasting company serving Greater Cincinnati. Our mission is to equitably source exceptional coffees, roast them to perfection and then use the profits as a way to fund works of compassion in Third World coffee producing nations like Nicaragua and Kenya. We give Cincinnati coffee lovers who want to shop their conscience a reason to celebrate."

Located at 107 East 9th Street, we discovered that they sit in the heart of a great "mom and pop" business district on Monmouth that we will explore further in the near future. Honestly, this is worth your trip down to Newport whether you're heading to the Levy or not. Stop in, by some coffee, sit and chat with your chums and know that your purchase is making a difference.

Fair Trade Field Trip Day

Because we have no home school co-op today and since October is Fair Trade Month, I'm taking my kids on a shopping field trip to a few places that sell Fair Trade items. As you may guess, with four children, this brings about a mixed bag of responses. The girls simply like to get out of our home and do anything. The boy...not so much.

But I am determined to get this principle ingrained in myself and hopefully begun in them: "My purchases do affect others...directly."

I am hoping to have a Fair Trade and/or local, small business Christmas this year. How about you? Does Wal-Mart really need your money again? Especially if you know buying from companies like them and Apple and Starbucks and many, many others, keeps another human soul in physical bondage? Even gift cards from McDonald's, any fast food and most large retailers mean you support companies who do not pay a fair living wage. We can't continue to keep repressing people and then expect them to not need government or charitable assistance. You literally can't have it both ways.

So what if we bought a little less this year, so we could spend a little more, so another soul could at least be physically free? I can't think of a better meaning of Christmas, can you?

October is Fair Trade Month

Because I follow @FairTradeUSA on Twitter, I found out that October is Fair Trade month. [Fair Trade USA has been celebrating all month with giveaways too.] This couldn't be more perfectly timed for what God is doing in me. I've shared about how He is working on the Internal vs External. I've told you also Don't Ever Discount What's Happening on the Inside and that He's refining me. Also, I'm becoming more aware of how my purchases can have global consequences.

Books like This Beautiful Mess and Living the Quaker Way have coincided perfectly with how He is asking me to examine my life in light of Kingdom living. When I live more simply, peacefully, truthfully, communally and with equality for all in my sights...I cannot help but be living out God's Kingdom "on Earth as it is in Heaven". That is a calling we as Christians should always have at the forefront of our thoughts, choices and actions.

Nowhere is God putting this all together better than in the area of coffee. I do love me some coffee! And since I didn't start drinking it until I moved to Kentucky (at 38 years old), I went with the good stuff. For the most part, I have imbibed Starbucks. Yes, they have accumulated a fair share of my money over the last seven years. But here is what God's Spirit began whispering to me a few months ago: If your pleasurable drink keeps people in slave debt, earning slave wages, or supports child labor...why are you drinking it?

In other words, why do I want to support a company or industry that does not pay fair wages to the people growing the product? (To be fair, Starbucks does sell some Fair Trade coffee beans. But what you purchase ready-made in their stores is not.) I say God's Spirit has been whispering, because unfortunately that's about all the volume I've allowed Him to have on this one. But my acquiescence was vital if I am to call myself Kingdom-minded.

And coffee isn't the only guilty harvest...chocolate (cacao beans), sugar, tea, vanilla and a lot of specialty products like moringa, maca powder, etc., should all be grown with fairness for the farmers and protection of our natural resources in mind. Sadly...most is not.

Now...I will concede that there are far too many other abuses of forced labor and trafficking in our world, not with the aforementioned products alone. Just yesterday, my 10 year old Leah asked if there are still slaves in the world. I hate those conversations when you have to demolish your child's innocence. But it was a great opportunity to talk with her about Fair Trade and why I've been buying Fair Trade sugar, vanilla and cacao for some time and have now switched in regards to coffee too. Then this morning, I came across this article that reveals just how horribly rampant slavery is in our world. This afternoon, I watched an old episode of Numbers on Netflix and, you guessed it, the topic was human trafficking.

Okay...okay...I get it: I absolutely need to be aware of how I spend, who gets my money and how the person doing the labor is being treated. I already have my own personal vendettas against Goodwill and Apple, can McDonalds, Burger King and Wendy's be too far behind?

When I think about all the implications of this, I admit...it is very radical. It's the kind of life Shane Claiborne and The Simple Way and thousands of others are attempting to live out daily. Yes, it is inconvenient! Yes, it will greatly reduce my spending (which is a boon for the simple life)! Yes, it will be more time consuming to research before buying or I will have to make my own _______________ (food or merchandise)! But as I've been tempted at least six times in the last two weeks to pull through a McDonalds drive-thru and order my new favorite Pumpkin Spice Latte', my wonderful Abba who is graciously patient with me has firmly...yet lovingly once again whispered, "Will that coffee taste good when you see the hands that have suffered to bring it to you?"  Almost every time, I have envisioned a person's face. It has been a different person each time and when I imagine myself looking into their faces and saying, "I know you work backbreakingly hard labor for a pittance (if any) so that I can have this cheap treat...but I'm going to have it anyway"...my van just keeps driving on past the golden arches.

I tell ya'...God is doing something in me. I am weepy at the drop of a dime and I am overcome with His beauty from the ashes and the wonder or what He is showing me. I keep asking Him with increasing passion, "What are you doing to me?" I may not be able to see the end result, nor know the mind of the Creator and His plans...but this I do know: I wouldn't trade the blessing, peace and love that I feel when I'm following precisely in His steps for anything...not even the "World's Best Cup of Coffee"

Velocity Bike and Bean

If you live in the Florence/Northern Kentucky area, you will recognize that I am late to the table (albeit a high top one!) on discovering this place. I'm uncertain as to when Velocity Bike and Bean of Florence opened, but I know more than a few people who have enjoyed their coffee for some time.

So while I'm a latecomer, I am now a fan. I visited there yesterday with my friend Kari, enjoyed a very yummy Nutella latte', sat comfortably in the cozy atmosphere, perused their excellent book selections (including a few by my favorite Donald Miller) and had a great conversation with a great lady. But don't let the wonderful coffee and cute atmosphere deceive you...Velocity is a fully operational bike shop too. Apparently, this combination is a little more common in other parts of the country, but here, not so much. It seems to be working though.

Velocity had a steady stream of customers, for both bike and bean, in the two hours that I was there. I can see why. And although their hours are only Monday through Friday 9 to 4 and Saturdays 9 to 3, they are open the second Saturday evening of each month for local musicians to perform. I know my husband, Dale, would love this and we hope to make it out to this week's session.

But the most amazing part of this place (for me, the non-biking enthusiast) is the coffee...and not just because it's tasty. Well, it is...but that's not the only good point. No, it's also Fair Trade. Oh...you know they are speaking my language now...right? I've shared on this blog how God has been calling me to this idea of being a good steward in every area of my life. That is being brought out by Him over and over again in the choices I make in regards to spending the resources He's given us. Nowhere has this become more obvious lately than in the area of coffee.

So next time you want to meet up with a friend over an excellent cup of java, please support the locally-owned Velocity Bike and Bean at 7560 Burlington Pike in Florence. By choosing to buy the Carabello Coffee brand, your dollars are also helping to support Fair Trade for the farmers who grow the beans and this local coffee company that helps fund non-profits and charity work with their proceeds. I don't think you'll find a better deal anywhere...no matter how attractive the "Siren" is.

I Know Hope

In an ongoing effort to spend the money God has given us in the way He would want us to spend it, I am constantly on the lookout for companies or ministries that are 

• environmentally friendly
• practice Fair Trade with their growers, farmers, craftsmen, laborers, etc.
• are not abusing, enslaving or traffiking anyone...or turning a blind eye to such practices
• work toward helping communities and individuals instead of padding the pockets of a few CEOs of multinational corporations

I still have a long way to go, but God is empowering me to one purchase at a time, stop the hopeless, helpless feeling that "I am only one person, so what can I do?" For me, that has become a cop-out that I can no longer excuse. Yes, it means research, diligence, delayed gratification and persistence but it also means my life and spending directly contribute to the well-being of others. I think that's a life Jesus would say is well-lived. Shouldn't that be my goal?

Which brings me to my latest purchase. A purse. I've been looking for one for about three to four months. I could find nothing on Stop Traffick Fashion's website that would fit my needs and budget, but they are usually my go-to place for this sort of thing. I've been babying the free Thirty-One purse that I won a few years ago because the zipper pull kept breaking. Then yesterday, the kids and I served at session for the Hands Against Hunger Million Meal Pack and I had time to peruse their small shop in the factory. I was beyond thrilled to find a messenger style bag (my favorite), upcycled from a used coffee burlap sack, that supports a ministry that is "Meeting the needs of the orphan, the hungry, and the hopeless by providing food, shelter, and other humanitarian efforts both locally and abroad."

Can't beat that, can you?

Sure I paid probably about $10 more than I typically would for a bag like this, but I consider that an investment in someone else's future. I Know Hope has several vendor locations in the Cincinnati area, but you can also order directly from them online. Oh, and by the way...the bag is exactly what I've been looking for and amazing quality too!

I have a friend that tomorrow is also hosting an open house for Redeeming Gifts brothel ministry. 

I am certain that I will spend money that some would say I should save for a "rainy day". But if I can get a jump start on some Christmas shopping and help a woman who currently can only support herself by selling her body for a dollar or two...why would I not do it! 

The point of all of this is not to strive for perfection...but improvement. 

See also, related post A Good Steward,