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Dec 8 2015

hopeful holiday shopping

Posted by hayley
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16 days until Christmas. Sixteen, people!!!

Do you have your shopping done yet? I’m about half done. Only a few stocking stuffers, a secret santa gift, and Handsome left to buy for.

But the more I wander the aisles of the big box stores, the more I’m inspired to instead find thoughtful handmade, local, or fair trade items to gift. Lucky for me, I have an “in” on an exceptional company that offers just that and I want to share their inspiring story with you.

Trades of Hope greyhouseharbor.com

Trades of Hope is a missional business that was started in 2010 by two women and their daughters. The founders believed that women worldwide are skilled, valuable, and could join together to change the face of poverty. By hiring artisans in impoverished nations, Trades of hope is empowering these women to become financially-independent businesswomen so that they may provide for their families, escape the sex trade, or afford much needed medical care. I love that it is a BUSINESS; not just a charity. 

Trades of Hope greyhouseharbor.com

Trades of Hope partners with artisans in 16 different countries and practices fair trade principles. This means the artisans are paid 100% of their asking price to earn a living wage (housing, food, medical care, education) and they are paid in full up front — regardless of how successfully their product sells. This fair wage is typically 3-6x the average of their community.

For example in Haiti, the minimum wage is $5/day and most make $3. Trades of Hope artisans are paid $15 and up to $25!

Trades of Hope greyhouseharbor.com

These artisans are not in poverty because they lack ability, but because they lack opportunity. That is where Trades of Hope is beginning to make a difference.

Spoiler Alert: If you’re on my Christmas list, do not peek at the image below.

With offerings of jewelry, scarves, bags, home decor, and stationary, I easily checked several people off my gift list! I especially like how every item is accompanied by a card that tells about the women who made it and the impact this business is having on their lives.

(Yes, that’s my kids artwork in the background… #notaproductphotographer)

Trades of Hope greyhouseharbor.com

This is Jane.

Trades of Hope greyhouseharbor.com

You may remember her from the baby shower I hosted last year. She’s a mom of 2 young girls, a fellow military spouse and a dear friend. She will be ridiculously embarrassed that I’m plastering her beautiful face on my blog, but she is my Trades of Hope secret weapon. As a partner in this business, she is the link between these talented artisans and us! Every purchase made through her website not only provides hope for the impoverished, but a portion of the proceeds also helps Jane contribute to the financial health of her family as well.

Good things all around!

The best news is that if you order by December 13th (this Sunday) all your gifts will ship for a flat $4.95 fee AND (more importantly) arrive in time for Christmas! Get that list done, friends. And feel really good about the women you’re supporting with your gifting this year.

Learn more about the artisans at her Facebook page HERE and shop at her website HERE.

*This post is not sponsored. I just adore this business model and my friends.

Tags: gift ideas, holidays
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Dec 1 2015

family feasting

Posted by hayley
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If you know anything about me, you know I’m not much one for cooking. I do it because people in my house need to be fed, but otherwise I have zero passion for kitchen activities (unless we’re talking about a batch of fresh cookies, duh).

So for me to volunteer to host a family Thanksgiving, plan the menu, and handle all the cooking was just short of torture a miracle. Just kidding, kinda.

Songbird caught a crafty whim in the morning and designed our decor.

Family Feasting greyhouseharbor.com

Family Feasting greyhouseharbor.com

My parents (“Oma” & “Opa”) brought my grandmother from Indiana to join in the fun. It’s been 2 years since we last spent time with “GG” and the kids loved keeping her busy with board games while I worked on the bird.

Family Feasting greyhouseharbor.com

One thing I can do is follow a recipe. The meal was a lovely hodge podge of recipes plucked from Pinterest, timeless favorites passed down from Handsome’s Grandma Lois (the kitchen queen), and Ree Drummond’s (the Pioneer Woman) turkey step-by-step.

Family Feasting greyhouseharbor.com

Since all my efforts were food related, the tablescape lacked creative flair. I think everyone was just happy I made something edible! :)

Family Feasting greyhouseharbor.com

Family Feasting greyhouseharbor.com

Songbird practiced her penmanship with personalized place cards, too.

Family Feasting greyhouseharbor.com

Family Feasting greyhouseharbor.com

Family Feasting greyhouseharbor.com

Family Feasting greyhouseharbor.com

Family Feasting greyhouseharbor.com

Family Feasting greyhouseharbor.com

Family Feasting greyhouseharbor.com

Yes, Opa is grateful for indoor plumbing… aren’t we all.

Pumpkin pie and Tassie cookies rounded out the dessert portion of our feast – a most wonderful Thanksgiving celebration!

Family Feasting greyhouseharbor.com

Tags: family, holidays, our life, thanksgiving
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Nov 1 2015

trick or treat, smell my feet

Posted by hayley
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In years past I’ve found such joy in handcrafting every detail of the kids’ Halloween costumes. However this year, Bug spied this Thor costume at the store and couldn’t pass up those muscles! And when I offered to sew Songbird a whole panther get-up, she was like “no thanks, I’ll just wear my sweatshirt and leggings.”

Hard to believe my kids are old enough to have non-swayable costume opinions!

Thor and Panther costumes greyhouseharbor.com

Both kids were kind enough to give their momma a little DIY fix by allowing me to fashion their accessories. Bug’s outfit didn’t include a helmet, so I spent a whole night designing and cutting one out of cardboard. He LOVED it and I was surprised he kept it on the entire night — I think it helped him really feel the power of Thor.

Cardboard DIY Thor Helmet greyhouseharbor.com

Cardboard DIY Thor Helmet greyhouseharbor.com

For Songbird, I made the tail and ears. Initially she didn’t want me to paint her face, but in the end we were both glad I convinced her otherwise.

Panther costume and facepaint greyhouseharbor.com

Panther costume and facepaint greyhouseharbor.com

Thor and Panther costumes greyhouseharbor.com

After cleaning out the cookie platter at the neighborhood chili cook-off, we met up with friends for the door to door madness.

Halloween 2015 greyhouseharbor.com

Avengers assemble! (Bug and his neighborhood buddy, Captain America.)

Avengers costumes greyhouseharbor.com

Halloween 2015 greyhouseharbor.com

Man with candy: “Are you Thor?”
Bug: “No, I’m 3.”

Woman with candy: “You can take 2 pieces.”
Bug: “No I can’t. Mom said only 1 and she’ll get weally mad if I take 2.”

Bug: “This candy bucket’s so heavy, it’s breaking my ankles!”

If Songbird said anything funny I didn’t hear it… she and the big girls were a solid 3 houses ahead of the littles all night.

Halloween 2015 greyhouseharbor.com

Let the week-long sugar comas commence!

Halloween 2015 greyhouseharbor.com

Halloween 2015 greyhouseharbor.com

Halloween 2015 greyhouseharbor.com

Tags: bug, halloween, holidays, songbird
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Mar 17 2015

wee tricks o’ the leprechaun

Posted by hayley
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The traps were built and placed bedside with care in hopes that a wee leprechaun would show himself there. But instead, we all three awoke with a fright to see just what mischief had happened last night.

Leprechaun Tricks greyhouseharbor.com Leprechaun Tricks greyhouseharbor.comLeprechaun Tricks greyhouseharbor.com

When Songbird came into my room pre-dawn, excited to tell me what had happened to her leprechaun trap, she got no further than a couple sentences before she started laughing.

“You have a green mustache Mom!”

Well, you can only imagine the belly laughter that ensued once everyone discovered that leprechaun Larry McMustache had given us all festive tattoos.

Despite her carefully executed design, Songbird’s trap was foiled by a little leprechaun ingenuity. Who knew they carried grappling hooks?! I suppose after hundreds of years of people attempting to catch them, those lil’ guys come prepared for anything.

Leprechaun Tricks greyhouseharbor.comLeprechaun Tricks greyhouseharbor.com

He did, however, leave her a nice note. “Thanks for the slide! Me friends and I loved it. But ye still can’t have me gold.” Alongside he placed a lucky penny. Know what makes it lucky? Because it was minted the year she was born!

Leprechaun Tricks greyhouseharbor.com

In Bug’s room, the leprechaun must have been digging through our lego bins to assemble these rainbow friends.

Leprechaun Tricks greyhouseharbor.com

His trap was also covered in green glitter, proving the wee lad had been there. However, this time he cut himself a little door to get out and also left Batman to guard Bug’s lucky penny.

Leprechaun Tricks  greyhouseharbor.comLeprechaun Tricks  greyhouseharbor.com

Everyone decided to wear their mustaches to school/activities for the day. Songbird even wore the 4-leaf clover necklace her Daddy brought back from Ireland a few years ago. Doesn’t get any more legit than that!

Leprechaun Tricks greyhouseharbor.com

Heading down for breakfast we learned the leprechauns had tried to trap us! Good thing it was only streamers.

Leprechaun Tricks greyhouseharbor.com

Even though we didn’t score any real gold, the leprechauns did built us our very own rainbow complete with a pot o’ gold chocolate beneath.

Leprechaun Tricks greyhouseharbor.comLeprechaun Tricks greyhouseharbor.com

The kids are already planning “solid steel traps as tall as the ceiling” for next year. Yikes. Let’s hope our leprechauns don’t carry dynamite!

Leprechaun Tricks greyhouseharbor.com

HAPPY ST. PATRICK’S DAY!

Grown-up eyes ONLY: (Mustache tattoos found at Walmart, grappling hook made from a paperclip, Lucky Penny printable courtesy of Pumpkin Petunia, all legos are hand-me-downs from my cousin, and green tempura paint easily washes off the door – even after it’s dry)

Tags: holidays, kid stuff, leprechaun tricks, our life, St. Patrick's Day
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I'm Hayley. Wife and mother by day, DIY enthusiast by night. Fueled by sweet tea and jelly beans, I own power tools and know how to use them. Consider yourself warned.

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All opinions within are exclusively and honestly mine. I do not commit to posting positive reviews of any promotional items I may receive. However, if the product or service suits the interests of my readers I may feature it and denote such compensation.
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