I think you can tell from some of my recurring series (Local Love and Girl Boss, to name two) that I’m a big fan of small businesses and people who find something they’re passionate about and make it work. I also have a soft spot for New York’s Hudson Valley which just so happens to be where I live and which is bubbling with creative awesomeness.

While putting together gift guides for the holidays, I realized it would be crazy to miss out on tapping into some of that local goodness. There are so many talented makers out there and the little guys deserve the spotlight just as much as those with a bigger budget do.

So, I gathered a list of a few of my favorite local makers whose pieces would be perfect for gift giving any time of year to put together a Hudson Valley gift guide that’s bursting with local makers.

“No act of kindness, however small, is ever wasted.” —Aesop

In hopes of talking less and doing more when it comes to helping others, I’ve started a series I’m calling Good Samaritan Saturday. On Saturday mornings, I’ll post a little something you can do to start your weekend out with positive vibes by helping to lift someone else up…

I’m super excited to start this mini series-within-a-series this week! For the next few Saturdays leading up to Christmas I’m going to be featuring some fantastic, socially conscious companies that are great places to do your holiday shopping. Not only do they offer beautiful, unique products, but they all give back in some way. And I’ve teamed up with them all to offer you a little something special too!

First up is To the Market, a shop full of survivor-made goods. TTM showcases gorgeous handmade pieces by artisans who have overcome abuse, conflict, and disease and also allows these survivors to tell their stories. I absolutely love their mission and the incredible goods they sell—and I’m pretty sure you will too!

Hey girl. Treat Yo Self is a series (inspired by my beloved Parks and Rec) that focuses on inexpensive indulgences that make you feel good without feeling guilty. Because when momma’s not happy, nobody is happy.

via The Creative Mama

I don’t know about you, but I almost always feel guilt about doing something exclusively for myself. It’s almost as if I’m doing something illegal—stealing precious time or resources from my kids like I’m some all-important creature with no regard for anyone but herself.

Well, it turns out, I am important.

“No act of kindness, however small, is ever wasted.” —Aesop

In hopes of talking less and doing more when it comes to helping others, I’ve decided to start a series I’m calling Good Samaritan Saturday. On Saturday mornings, I’ll post a little something you can do to start your weekend out with positive vibes by helping to lift someone else up…

31 Bits Whimsy Pine necklace

This week I want to talk about 31 Bits, a company that sells accessories. It sounds simple enough, right? There are plenty of companies out there that sell accessories. The difference? These bracelets and necklaces are made out of recycled paper and are crafted by impoverished women in Uganda who are being given an opportunity to rise above poverty.

Totally inspired by Sophia Amoruso’s book of the same name, Girl Boss is a series focused on fierce, determined women who go with their gut and create their dream businesses in the process.

I’ve been internet buds with Tiffany from Dough and a Dear for awhile now. She’s one of those people that I can’t for the life of me remember how I connected with, but I know I can count on her social media for a nice hunk of snarky reality and some giggles. Also, I can count on her to make me drool with pictures of her pretty doughnuts. It doesn’t matter that I can’t eat them (gluten, I’m fist shaking at you!). Just looking at them makes me happy.

As Tiffany launches a Kickstarter to take her doughnut biz out of her little kitchen and into a secondhand food truck, I thought it would be a great time to take a look at a total boss as she tries to uplevel her dream.