Tag Archives: holiday

Tips for Charitable Holiday Giving

Photo courtesy of Tracy Olson on Flickr.

Photo courtesy of Tracy Olson on Flickr.

Although I’d like to scream at most stores (and some people) that have had their Christmas decorations out since before Halloween, I can no longer deny that Thanksgiving and Hanukkah are just a day away! The holiday season is upon us, ya’ll.

I’m not diving through a swimming pool full of gold coins like Scrooge McDuck (yet!), but I do find a way to give some of my mere wages to charity during the holiday season and throughout the year. I’d like to encourage you to do so too.

So how do you know if an organization is legitimate? How do you know where your donation goes? How can you make a difference? Here’s some of my tips to making sure your giving counts.

  1. Think about the things that mean the most to you.
    Do you have a big heart for animals? Has a teacher made a difference in your world? It’s time to get mushy and find an organization or organizations that aligns with your beliefs.
  2. Check to make sure the organization is a 501(c) tax-exempt nonprofit.
    The IRS database of nonprofits is difficult to navigate, so I’d recommend just downloading the zip file and searching for the organization by using Ctrl F. You can download the file here.
  3. No money? No problem.
    Charitable giving just isn’t a reality for some people. I get that. But many organizations not only need cash, they need the time of dedicated individuals. Consider dedicating your time, as well.
  4. Ask and give donations instead of gifts this holiday season
    Instead of gifts at our wedding, we asked our guests to donate to our favorite charity. It was one of the best decisions we made. It definitely made our wedding feel a lot less self-absorbed. Instead of yet another something that someone doesn’t need, consider making a charitable donation in their name. It’s pretty much like giving holiday cheer.
  5. Remember that you may be able to deduct charitable giving from your taxes
    Just keep a good, solid record of your donations and in April, you might be able to write them off!

Still stumped? Here are a few of my favorite charities.

  1. Your local Community College Foundation
    Community Colleges change the lives of people by giving them a higher education or a technical skill for a relatively low cost (or for free!). But unlike large universities, community colleges don’t have the alumni support base that large universities do to help offset costs. I donate to the community college I work at each month and I know that my small donation is helping to change the life of student.
  2. NPR
    NPR is another organization that I give to each month. I don’t have a television, so I rely on NPR to supply me with unbiased news on a daily basis. I’m also a sustainer, so I am entered into their trip drawings during their pledge drive. 🙂
  3. Heifer International
    Heifer International empowers families to turn hunger and poverty into hope and prosperity. You can donate livestock to international families or communities to help “bring sustainable agriculture and commerce to areas with a long history of poverty.” This year I’m giving a goat!
  4. Stronghold Society
    The Stronghold Society is the organization that George and I chose to donate to during our wedding. Their mission “is to inspire confidence, creativity, hope, and ambition for the youth of native and non-native communities… [And] encourage youth to take action to live a healthy life in mind, body, and spirit through the diverse means of skateboarding, arts, and creative movements.” It’s a beautiful mission and it blends George’s love of skateboarding and the arts with my heritage.

In this time of thanksgiving, please think about those who are less fortunate.

love and thanksgiving,
melanie

 

Handmade Holiday Challenge: Infused Liquors!

infused liquorsI’ve never been too keen on flavored liquors with the exception of my college Smirnoff Lemon Vodka phase. I feel a little barfy just thinking about it. But that’s because most of those liquors are artificially flavored. I mean Cinnabon-flavored vodka? That can’t be real.

Infusing your own liquor is so much tastier than the manufactured stuff and makes mixed drinks extra special. And infused liquors make a great hostess holiday gift. Good thing my friends like to party because everyone is getting infused liquor this year!

infused liquors closeupHere’s the stupid-easy how-to:
Grab a canning jar. Cut up some fruit, add spices (if you desire) and fill the jar with liquor. I recommend using organic fruit so there’s no yucky stuff infusing the liquor. Then, shake once a day, everyday. The liquor will be infused in about a week!

I’ve tried strawberries and vodka before with great results. The vodka tasted just like real strawberries! This time I’m also trying an apple-infused bourbon and a green apple-infused moonshine. (The moonshine is legal, guys. It’s Junior Johnson’s Midnight Moon, if you are curious.) For the apple-infused liquors, in addition to the fruit, I also added a cinnamon stick and three cloves. I’m thinking with a little bit of simple syrup it will taste like apple pie!

I’m so excited about these holiday gifts, I might have to keep one for myself!

love,
melanie

 

 

 

Handmade Holiday Challenge: Vanilla Extract

how to vanilla extractFirst up on my handmade holiday challenge we have (drumroll please!) vanilla extract! I know, it’s not super exciting, but it is actually a thoughtful gift for my mom. My mom is an excellent baker and cook. She has intuition in the kitchen like no one I’ve ever met. She could take some peanut butter and beef jerky and turn it into a four course meal.

The last time I was at home we popped into “William and Sonomas” (as she calls it) and I caught her buying a 12 dollar bottle of vanilla extract. I was worried that some baking kingpin was making her run all of his errands. A 12 dollar bottle of vanilla? That’s extortion.

vanilla extractAnyway, for Christmas I thought I’d make real vanilla extract for her gift. It’s amazingly easy and way cheaper than the William and Sonomas version.

Wash and thoroughly dry bottles with a tight fitting cap. I got these from Michael’s for $1.16 a piece! Split your vanilla beans with a knife and put them in the bottle. Pour bourbon, rum or vodka into the bottle. Swig a little of each. I chose vodka (left) and bourbon (right) for my extract. The vodka version shouldn’t have much extra flavor, but the bourbon will add a bit of smokiness to your baking. Rest in a cool, dark place for 1 month. Enjoy or gift!

Are you getting to work on your holiday gifts? Join my challenge and let me know about in the comments!

love,
melanie

 

The Handmade Holiday Challenge

Gorgeous handmade socks by Hedgehog Fibres on Flickr

Gorgeous handmade socks by Hedgehog Fibres on Flickr

The average American adult is predicted to spend $786 this holiday season. That’s nutzo, ya’ll. And I must admit, I was one of those free-spending holiday nuts once too. But this year, no more. I’m no Scrooge, but I simply can’t spend the money I once did on the holidays. This year I’m giving myself a mere $100 budget to spend on gifts. How am I going to do it? Well, people, I’m getting crafty.

Why $100? Why not totally free? Well, crafts aren’t free unlike Pinterest leads us to believe. But handmaking gifts can save money if you’re smart about it. Even with $100 it’s going to be a challenge to get supplies. I’ve got a dozen gifts to give. (12 days of Christmas, 12 gifts, makes sense right?!) And there’s only so much time in the day.

Yes, I’m a nut to take on this challenge during the already stressful holiday season. But I’m a bag full of delicious holiday nuts, for sure.

Here’s the list of people I’m making something for:

  1. Mom
  2. Dad
  3. Sister
  4. Sister’s cat (weird, I know, but we always give our pets gifts in my family)
  5. Mother-in-law
  6. Father-in-law
  7. Niece
  8. Brother-in-law
  9. Sister-in-law
  10. Husband
  11. Friends
  12. Co-workers

In case you are curious, my mom usually buys the extended family gifts. (My grandma, aunts, uncles, etc.) So, I don’t have to worry about them. I’m also spending a little bit on charitable donations this year, but I won’t be taking it out of my craft fund.

Will you join my handmade holiday challenge? What’s the best handmade gift you’ve ever given or received? Let me know in the comments!

love,
melanie

Low Sugar Holiday Nuts

Maple, Holiday Nuts

Hello, my name is Melanie and I’m a snacker. I feel like there should be a support group for people like me. If I don’t have a little nosh, I’m completely ravenous during the next meal and I’ll eat everything in sight. Snacks are essential.

But snacks aren’t as easy as they might be for the glutinous. I can’t just grab a granola bar and call it a day. But that’s where nature comes in, nature’s granola bar is nuts! And I eat a lot of ’em. But lately I’ve been wanting a way to spice things up. The old, raw nut routine wasn’t cutting it anymore. I’ve also been on a low sugar kick lately, so I didn’t want to just douse them in cinnamon sugar like most holiday nuts and call it a day. Although, that would probably be delicious. And yes, I’m already talking about the holidays. Don’t act like you haven’t been mentally adding everything in Target to your wish list already. WE ALL DO IT.

Holiday Mixed Nuts

Here’s the recipe for Low Sugar, Holiday Nuts 

1 tbsp coconut oil
1/2 cup raw, unsalted cashews
3/4 cup raw, unsalted pecans
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp cardamom
1 tsp maple syrup
Sea salt

Melt the coconut oil over low heat. I used a cast iron skillet, but you could probably get away with any kind of skillet. I just think cast iron makes everything taste better. Ok, so once you’ve got the coconut oil melted, toss in the cashews and pecans, cinnamon and cardamon. Stir frequently and toast until tan. I always like toasting cashews because they’re light in color and you can tell when they are done. It’s nature’s timer. When everything looks nice and toasty, add the maple syrup, give it a good stir and just a little more toast to caramelize the syrup. Finish with a healthy dose of sea salt.

Confession: I ate this whole plate. Worth it.

love,
melanie

 

Male Teacher Appreciation Gifts

This collage shows different male teacher appreciation gift ideas like pens, supplies and gift cards.

Being married to a male-identifying teacher and being around male instructors all day as a librarian made me think: Male teachers kinda get left out when it comes to gifting. There are tons of ideas on Pinterest, but most of them are geared towards female teachers. So, I thought to myself, “Self! We need a good reference for male teacher appreciation gifts!” Here are a few teacher appreciation gifts that folks of any gender will love.

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