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Thinking Bigger: Serving Others and Supporting Small Businesses
Here on the blog, we've implemented a new series of talks on Thinking Bigger. Last week we touched on How Simplicity Changes Everything, and this week I wanted to talk about serving others and supporting small businesses – A topic that has really been on my heart and surprisingly, has also helped me process during this time.
My family lives in Dallas; we are so close, and it was really tough to cancel the trips we had planned to see each other, not knowing when the safe next time will be. One way that has helped me feel so connected is by sending them presents that remind me of them or fun little things for my sweet nieces! And all the while, I order the items from small businesses. You bring a company joy while sending joy to someone you love, and it doesn’t have to be big!Another long-winded, yet rewarding project we have been diving into is all things home and finishing the furnishing process! With the intension of supporting small businesses, I feel like I have entered an entirely new world of discovering some incredible companies! It makes the purchase that was on the to-do feel much more purposeful.
Fun Ideas
- Create your neighbor a bouquet of flowers from the backyard.
- Write a note to someone you are grateful for.
- Call your grandma.
- Give to a charity that provides meals to others during this time.
- Cook a meal or cookies and deliver it to someone it would help.
Gift Ideas
- Send a bottle of wine from here (it's organic and biodynamic and delicious!)
- A toy for your friend's puppy from here, here, or here.
- Send something cute from here.
- This Box of Sunshine that gives 100% of proceeds to Baby2Baby.
- The cutest organic clothes for kids.
- For new mamas.
- Healthy products from here.
For the Home
- I just got this little vase, mini lamp, and marble counter pedestal (inspo from Ashley Kane).
- These pretty water glasses.
- European linen pool towels for such an affordable price!
- A healthy way to keep the bugs away outside!
- Rugs from here or here!
- Something pretty from here.
To follow along with items I'm getting my hands on, or to see how I'm constantly learning and processing throughout this time, stay up to date on my Instagram. x
How can you serve and support others during this time? Jot down a few ideas and try to implement one this week!
Shop My Look Here: Shorts, Top, Sunnies, and Shoes [show_shopthepost_widget id="4030274"]
My Crane & Lion Activewear Capsule Collection
Friends! I truly could not be more excited to announce that I partnered with Crane and Lion active wear to create a capsule collection. This company was built to serve women who inspire daily by pairing sumptuous fabrics with high-performing design to power your journey with balance, strength and style. The words crane and lion are two poses in yoga that requires strength and stamina. I love this parallel to life!They are truly the most lovely company with the biggest hearts, and the most exciting part of this partnership is that 30% of all sales from this capsule collection will be donated to The Lauren Scruggs Kennedy Foundation for a year! This is such a blessing because we will provide for four recipients by January of next year, and we are now waiting for donations before we can continue giving to these sweet girls.Check out the sweet interview we did together on their website, and be sure to take a look at the capsule collection I created. P.S. Here is a fun shopping surprise: use this discount code to receive 20% off your entire order: Lauren_Scruggs_Kennedy, and this is limited to one use per customer. Happy shopping!
The Lauren Scruggs Kennedy Foundation
After my accident, my prosthetic arms brought another level of healing and wholeness, and it broke my heart to know insurance failed to provide for many. I couldn't be more excited to announce that the Lauren Scruggs Kennedy Foundation has launched! We exist to bring hope, restore dignity, and ignite faith in girls and women by providing beautiful cosmetic coverings for prostheses. Read more about our story and mission on our website to see how you can get involved, or maybe you know someone we can serve. P.S. Any Stranded purchase gives a percentage to the foundation!
*image by felicia lasala*
THE OUTFIT: cape | denim (c/o) | shirt (c/o) | booties
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Seeing the Bigger Picture: Uwezo Shoes
I love when a fabulously talented person has an eye for a brand that will benefit something greater than just the fashion industry piggy bank. Alexis Hefley did just that when she stumbled upon these hair-on-hide shoes in a market during a trip to Uganda with her Dallas-based non-profit, Empower African Children, a charity that has funded education programs for high-risk and orphaned children since 2005. Alexis saw beyond a cute accessory for our feet--she saw impacted lives.
Uwezo, a shoe line that supports our style personalities with nature-ific oxfords while simultaneously providing academic scholarships and educational opportunity for Ugandan orphans and vulnerable youth, was born through a partnership with shoemaker Bata. This line of classic, yet trendsetting soles was an answer to many brainstorming sessions aiming to keep their educational programs up and running.The best is yet to come: the shoe sales are not an end in themselves; they are a source for economic growth, providing jobs for local residents and utilizing cowhides from cows in the community. Another thumbs up: production takes place in environmentally friendly and sustainable factories in Kenya, where local employees are promised fair wages and humane working conditions.You can find these super-cool, reasonably priced shoes at Macy's or on the Uwezo website. Profits benefit the community and the educational programs of Uganda. Read more about Empower African Children here.Image: Courtesy of Uwezo