Simplify-Sanctify

Happy Holiday Season!

In honor of the "voluntary simplicity" movement I am including a few links for gift ideas and books that may relieve that sense of anxiety and over-consumption that overwhelm us during this season. This year David and I are giving Kiva gift certificates to our family members. Kiva is a micro-economics organization. Check it out. A wonderful way to remember our shared humanity.
http://www.Kiva.org.

http://www.girlswritenow.org an organization encouraging voice and literacy

http://www.roomtoread.org an organization promoting universal literacy

http://www.mercycorps.org/mercykits kits for sustainable living from beekeeping to school supplies the world round

http://www.pen.org supporting writers endangered for their words

http://www.heifer.org/ adopting an animal to gift to a family to encourage sustainability

http://www.carbonfund.org calculate your carbon footprint and donate the money to a green organization

Buy Locally!

Check out the beautiful ceramic works of yoga student and artist Whitney Smith

Make a gift of food bought with goods from Farmer Joes

Yoga student, mom and artist Terry makes adorable clippies and bedding at GiddyGiddy


For your best animal friends go to the fantastic organic Paws and Claws Pet Store and Bathhouse run by the dynamic duo Diane and Ruth in the Dimond District.

One of the best bookshops in town: Laurel Books at 4100 MacArthur Blvd.

Go have a chat with Joe or Noella, owners of Issues, the new and best magazine store around. They also have gifts, books and music. And they're really nice too.

Or how about a gift certificate for Yoga?? from our friends at Loka Yoga.

READ: "The Good Life" a lovely and profound exploration of simplicity from Helen and Scott Nearing

"The Hundred Dollar Holiday" by Bill McKibben-discover the disturbing origins of "Christmas."

"Hands across the World" encourages multicultural awareness with super cool projects for children.

"The Gift of Nothing" by Patrick McDonnell. The title speaks for itself. I am reading it over and over to the girls hoping they get the idea that nothing is sometimes everything.

And finally. The simple gift of TIME is the truly the most lovely. Time is not Money. Spend time with your family, with your friends with your animals. For truly it is the most precious commodity there is, despite what Master Card would have you believe.