It's beggining to look a lot youmas.

Hello blog lovers and Christmas lovers alike.

Well doesn't your tree look sparkling from here! Is that? Oh you! Remind me to steer clear of that mistletoe.

Sorry, What was that? I can't hear you over Chestnuts Roasting on An Open Fire. That's better, thanks for turning that down.

Let's chat.

Why is it, that giving has become a requirement at Christmas. It sometimes seems a task.

Don't get me wrong, I love to give gifts. a lot. I'd consider my self a generous person in the area of time and what-not as well. You know, not just the material things.

Its a simple pleasure of mine to see something unexpectedly and buy it for someone I know would love it. This is not difficult for me. It brings me joy.

It's difficult when I feel required to give a gift just because it's standard procedure. Takes the fun out of everything. When gift shopping, I don't like worrying about if it's more or less expensive than what so and so is going to give me or if the gift is too humble or not.

My best friend will attest that the best gift I have ever given her is a wooden back scratcher I bought for her out of the blue. I saw it and I knew she'd love it. Gone are the days she scratches her back with a plastic fork. Does she remember the bath stuff I bought her for Christmas? nope. Will she remember the gift certificate I gave her for her birthday? Probably not. All appreciated? Well of course! but nothing compared to that scratcher.

Christmas, Birthdays and whatever gifts are good. It's still lovely to buy with intent. I'm just not as into it until I find something perfect that fits the person, not the holiday or occasion.

I motion, we spend TIME on people at Christmas and worry about gifts well, never, unless of course we feel like celebrating someone or happen to stumble on the perfect way to say "Merry Youmas" or "Happy Youlidays" no matter the time of year. Please don't think I'm trying to take Christ out of Christmas...that's been done before.

Did I spoil your cheer? I hope not. I hope I've inspired you to become genuine in your gift giving.

I see your latte is empty, may I get you another?

Morning thoughts.

As I lay propped up in a sea of blankets and pillows, I contemplate life and simple joys. Like my laundry for instance and how it launders itself in the machine.

Tiffanie had her babe yesterday. Ian send me a picture and she looks like a perfect little garden gnome. I cannot wait to kiss her little gnome nose. Emilyn Joy.

She's a lucky little gal and I can't help but think of children who aren't held in the arms of someone who will take care of them. I can't think of all the children who won't be cared for because that is overwealming and might keep me in bed for days feeling sick about it.

Anyway.

I've been continuing researching other fair trade websites and have found a few. I'll have to update the list soon enough.

More to come soon on life and gnomes.

Keep warm, Calgary and love to all my friends all around the globe.

M

It's Official!

Well guys, this just in.

I am officially a nomad.

Sorry what did you say? Oh, my bad. Here, let dictionary dot com tell you what a nomad is, if you are unfamiliar with the term:

no·mad   
[noh-mad] Show IPA
–noun
1.
a member of a people or tribe that has no permanent abode but moves about from place to place, usually seasonally and often following a traditional route or circuit according to the state of the pasturage or food supply.
2.
any wanderer; itinerant.
–adjective
3.
nomadic.
Origin:
1580–90; < L nomad- < Gk, s. of nomás pasturing flocks, akin to némein to pasture, graze

—Related forms
no·mad·ism, noun
non·no·mad, noun, adjective
sem·i·no·mad, noun
sem·i·no·mad·ism, noun

Hmmm? How do I know? Oh, well it's been confirmed.

It first happened a few weeks ago when Rae prayed for me inserting the word Nomad. It was a very spiritual label.

Then Jo said "aww you little nomad" a few days later without any prompting what so ever. I believe I gasped.

I was waiting for the third installment for quite sometime wondering would it ever happened. Well, it happened today in the kitchen when A.J said straight up "you're a nomad". Fancy that!

If that's not confirmation heck if I know what is.

This is my conclusion:

I will embrace my nomadery because I want to travel the world! I want to see culture! I want live in community with different people! I want to use exclamation marks in all my sentences because it's just so dang exciting (but never more than three in a row like this see: !!!!!!! Because that is uncalled for)

I have no clue how this looks like in term of my life but while I'm young and free, I shall take the opportunity.

Don't worry guys, nomad-er what, I'll never forget you.

In fact, nomads can travel together.

Whose in?

every. time.

I can't escape the stupidity of lol cats. The cat pictures with dumb spelling errors contorted into child's talk are so wrong but so right at the same time. Here's an example of a lol cat pic. Stupid cats face...



This post is dedicated to my friend Taylor Coffey. For introducing me to this ridculously retarded website and for finally asking Mere to marry him.

Love.

I like it when it's this easy:

On Wed, Nov 17, 2010 at 1:56 PM, Meaghan Ellen wrote:

Hello,

Just wondering if you sell fair trade clothing as well as environmentally conscious clothing.

I'm on a mission to put together a list of stores/online resources.

Thank-you,

Meaghan

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi Meaghan,

We are dedicated to promoting Fair Labor and Environmental protection where Patagonia products are made. Patagonia is a founding member of the Fair Labor Association. We aim to work with reputable factories and among other initiatives, we publish our list of factories to provide greater transparency to our customers and others.

I can direct you to patagonia.com/socialresponsibility for more information.

Thanks for your interest.

Mike

Patagonia Calgary
135 8th Ave SW
Calgary, AB
403-266-6463 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 403-266-6463 end_of_the_skype_highlighting

I've been researching.

Been looking for fair trade clothing companies to purchase my clothing from. That's the simple version of this post.

The more complicated version is that I have been looking into becoming a advocate for a couple different organizations re separate issues. My realization was this "how can I save someones life while wearing anothers".

I am just know delving into this issue, so please, no judgement. I'm new.

I feel that I have been ignorant to many issues facing humanity. Mostly because I don't know what to do about it. Its overwhelming, but I feel like that can't be my excuse any longer.

The point isn't to become perfect and start shaking fingers. The point is to do my best and lead as an example. To inspire.

I asked a friend for advice on how to sever the thick ties I have to the consumer industry adding that it will be very hard for me. I, like the rest of North America, like convenience. I am a lazy lazy bum. *I know not all North Americans are lazy bums, but I sure am.

My friends words of advice was: "If this choice comes from the heart, it won't be hard"

She is a better person than I and I'm pretty sure giving up "Gap" (paying only 21 cents a day when an average age in Cambodia is $1--or so I read) and other companies alike may stress me out more than an 800 calorie diet.

The Bible says that "faith is being sure of what you hope for and certain of what you cannot see". True.

I think ignorance is being falsely sure of what you hope for (the world or otherwise), being blind to what you cannot see. True?

I think if we were exposed to realities of slave/child labor, we would react differently. Its not our fault and it is our fault. It's messy and it's clear. I think we call that Grey.

Listen to Brooke Fraser: Albertine. I like it.

Here is a list I've complied in my quest to find clothing not made by small children or overworked and under payed adults. I've only gone by what their websites have stated and have not done extensive research on any of them.

This is what I have come up with so far:

*Global Girlfriend
*American Apparel
*The hunger site
*NOVICA
*Justice clothing
*Autonomie Project Inc
*TOMS (shoes)
*Ethletic (shoes)
*Justshirts (just shirts)
*Marigold
*People Tree (the most beautiful clothes)
*Fair Indigo
*Ten Thousand Villages (home decor/goods)
*Global Exchange
*No Sweat Apparel (now only selling wholesale)
*Mahadevi Design
*Body Shop

Organisation:
*Sweatshopwatch.org

Food:
*Earths General Store

Coffee:
*Good Earth Cafe
*Kicking Horse Coffee (so yummy! Joanne and Rosie introduced me to this)

A good idea:
*buy from second hand stores

Dont's I might have thoughts were do's:
*lululemon (now has factories in China)
*Roots (now has factories in China leaving thousands of Canadians without jobs)

I know, I know. If we stop buying from stores that manufacture overseas there will be even more poverty. What if we can change that though? Fair wages.

Back!

I'm back in Calgary and am sad to see a new season upon us. I'm greiving fall and am anticipating finding reasons to love winter.

Got any?

Don't mention Christmas or I'll punch you in the ovaries or otherwise.



Love always,

Meaghan

xoxox