Faith & FamilyGRATITUDE WEEK: Given Goods Giveaway November 20, 2019 This amazing basket backpack is handmade in Morocco and from Given Goods. Well, friends, it’s one week from Thanksgiving and we’re practicing a whole lot of gratitude in this house. There are so many things I’m grateful for specific to this year. I’m thankful for my family and all the ways we are growing and moving along in our adventure. But I’m also so grateful for community in a real and tangible way this year. In the past 365 days, I’ve felt the communities I’m blessed to be a part of deepening and shifting in great ways. My local community of friends and creative connections, my online connections and friends, and ALL OF YOU lovely people who support our family’s adventure. The fact that I get to use these gifts God has given me and share my passion for home, family, and seeing the world with wonder to help support our family blows me away. You guys make that happen and I’m forever grateful. I decided I wanted to do a GRATITUDE WEEK leading up to Thanksgiving to say a big, tangible THANK YOU to all of you who make this dream a reality. I see you guys and your support and am more thankful than I can say. Over the next seven days, I’m so excited to bring you spotlights on some of my favorite brands who are living with intention AND an awesome giveaway from each! There will be something for everyone: goodies for the mamas & ladies, kiddos, and a few things for ALL. Here’s how it will work: each morning a new giveaway will launch. There will be a post on the blog spotlighting the brand, why I love them, and what’s being given away. The giveaway itself will run on Instagram! I tried to decide on the best place to do them and the vast majority of my audience meets me there. For anyone not on Instagram, I’d love for you to participate if you want to grab an account for the week so you can enter (or enter through a family member or friend!). Let’s dive right in to our first Brand Giveaway! I’ve talked about this brand before on the blog and a lot over on Instagram. But it is such a special one that’s close to my heart, y’all. Rewind six years and I had the privilege of meeting the most inspiring lady at church: my friend Erin. She invited me to a ladies’ mentoring group that I still look back and credit for so much of my growth right when I was first entering motherhood. Through her, I met her three incredible sisters. These are the ladies behind Given Goods, a company like no other I’ve encountered. Their focus is “cause-conscious goods,” and they’ve helped me understand and embrace the power of purchase. Remember the shift in our story where we started to grasp the power every dollar could have? Either for positive or negative in the world? (You can watch that video from our story on the call we felt to live simply and with purpose HERE). That season changed our life and family forever. The decisions we’ve made and where we think we’re headed in the future is different because of that call. And much of it was inspired by these ladies, their heart for the world, and their purposeful brand. They are world-changers. They’ve curated the most gorgeous shop here in my town of Greenville, SC pulling brands from all over the world who have a big heart for a lot of different, worthy causes. I’m inspired every single time I go in! They have the most lovely shop with the best quality and most stylish products around. But they aren’t just a cute shop….every item you’ll find was ethically and sustainably made and gives back in big ways. When I first embarked on the ethically-made journey and started questioning purchases wherever I could, I worried it would mean majorly compromising on style. Their shop shows me that that is absolutely not the case! Every time I go in, I’m inspired by the gorgeous, well-made, unique goods all around me. But I’m also inspired on a soul and heart level. Their love for people over business is palpable in the air there! This shop is local and currently doesn’t have a website you can order from, but they ship all the time! Check out their Instagram and they’ll send photos of things, etc. and ship whatever you like. It’s worth it, y’all. I’ve been slowly re-building my wardrobe from ethically-made brands. For me, that looks like thrifting a little and mainly mixing in special pieces from this brand! Like this coat right here (jeans and shirt also from Given)! I’d never seen anything like it and the quality and purpose behind the brand blew me away. So, she came home with me and I know I’ll treasure it for decades to come! That’s how their pieces feel to me: heirloom quality, super special things you’ll cherish. They’ve got an amazing assortment of clothes, jewelry, bags, things for the home, and even stuff for the kiddos! I’ll share some of my favorite things I’ve brought home from their store throughout the day on my stories. But for now, let’s get to today’s GIVEAWAY! There are some new additions to my little laundry hooks. I’m not even sad they aren’t staying because I’m THRILLED to send them to one of you! This incredible bag was handmade from Medina Mercantile. They’re a family business focused sustainably sourcing bags from local independent artisans. And look at this scarf by Maelu Designs (an ethical women’s apparel line focusing on sustainable textiles made with natural fibers and vegetable dyes.) It is so soft and huge, which I always look for in scarves. You can wear it so many different ways! Go enter the Giveaway on my Instagram post HERE! I’m so excited to send this to one of you! And make sure you follow Given on Instagram for all of the updates on what they have! For any local friends, they’re having a Holiday Open House tomorrow night featuring all kinds of local artisans and all of their usual goods. It’s one of my very favorite events every year. And lastly, a HUGE THANKS to the ladies of Given for what they’ve taught me and the heart they’re bringing to our local community and the world.