mother knows best.

my mother knows me so well. though i love all of my gifts from christmas, a few of them had a bit more meaning for me because of the movements behind the products. two of the more excellent gifts i received were:

TOMS shoes: www.tomsshoes.com

and

basa body products: www.basabody.com

TOMS shoes help children in need across the world by providing one pair of shoes to a child in need for every pair purchased. the leading cause of disease in developing countries is soil-transmitted parasites, so these pairs of shoes not only make lives less painful, they save lives. plus, they're quite stylish and ridiculously comfortable. buy some

basa body products are made of virgin coconut oil, originating from kenya. the farming and processing of this coconut oil is the means of living for many kenyan oil, and the lotions and other products made out of this oil is the source of income for these women. plus, it smells like summer and is excellent for the dry winters.

thinking about movements like these puts a little spark in my eye and inspires me. i love the idea of turning consumerism into something that better serves those in need around the world, not just an act of indulgence. though i wish i were personally responsible for these movements and could be in direct contact with these people in need (some day!), i love helping where i can. and when my mom bought these products for me for christmas, she was doing her part to help! go check TOMS and basa out, and do your part too!