another reason why $10 can change the world

hi everybody!

today, i have a fun, little post for you.

if you have been reading for a while, you know that i am a huge fan of donating money & supporting causes that will make a difference.

a huge part of blake & my's partnership is based on the idea that small changes can really make the world a better place.

we do a lot of our shopping at whole foods. we are lucky to have a location a mile away ; so we go there often. i will gladly pay a bit more for groceries knowing that i am supporting small farmers, start-up companies & giving money to a company that gives back millions of dollars to charity.

a few weeks ago, i got their whole planet newsletter, showcasing L.I.F.E. Line. whole foods has been a longtime financial supporter.

L.I.F.E. Line is an kenya-based organization that employs women to create hand-sewn totes, zipper pouches and incredible hand-beaded bracelets.

each woman is paid 3x the average kenyan salary ; that is huge in a place of deep poverty. also, a large number of the women that are employed have children with special needs. through this program, their children are able to attend school, receive the necessary services & thrive in their community. it is SO powerful!

from their website : 

How many people in Kenya does the L.I.F.E. Line support?-27 Malaika Mums
-400+ Maasai Mums
-1 sewing teacher (Liz)
-2 operations managers (Brigid and Vernoica)
-22 employees at Leather Works
-75+ employees at Color Creations
-100+ employees at Sunflag
-5 caretakers for students at Malaika Kids school
-1 occupational therapist at Malaika Kids school
-81 children of Malaika Mums
-1800+ estimated kids & grandkids of Maasai Mums
-----------------
Total individuals supported by the L.I.F.E. Line = 2,514+

a few weeks ago, we were at whole foods & i saw the L.I.F.E. Line bags at the service desk. i love that they have a sewing machine [the one i bought] & a ball of yarn [here] on the bags.

and i really love everything about the zippered pouch [its big enough to put cash, a million cards & change]

i have been taking the bag with me to hot yoga + the gym everyday. i load it up with my water bottle, my mat, a towel & a change of clothes.

also, the beaded bracelets are here & they are stunning.

you can purchase the bags at whole foods or online.

i love this. you spend $10 on a reusable bag & you support a woman, her child & her community THOUSANDS of miles away. [i really hope it gives you goosebumps!]

disclaimer : i bought the bag + the change pouch with my own money ; whole foods doesnt know who i am. i just want to change the planet!

stay connected to L.I.F.E. Line :

shop // meet the mums // twitter // FAQ section

how YOU can help the families of newtown, ct :

hi everybody!
like you, my heart has been so heavy & broken these past few days.
friday was my birthday. i woke up SO excited for a new year & all the big goals i have planned.
and then the shooting happened.
i have been a kindergarten teacher. i have worked with kids for 13 years. i have been through lockdown drills. i have a partner that goes to school every day to teach // love // protect a class full of 5 year-olds.
like so many others ; the shooting broke my heart. hit close to home. and hasnt left my mind all weekend.

so many people on social media are back to taking pictures of their food. and talking about the newest episode of their favorite show. or how their child was a total brat this morning.
i know that we all handle things differently ; but i am not there yet.
dont get me wrong ; this is not about me. i am not making this about me..

we dont own a tv. ive been avoiding most of the news reports // articles // blogs about the shooting. i dont ever want to see a picture of the shooter. and at this point ; i also havent been able to look at the photos of the children & educators that we lost on friday.

i am an educator. blake is an incredible teacher. we have family & so many friends that are teachers.
oh man ; this is all just so heavy.
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
i am not ready to go back to my 'regularly scheduled blogging.'
but i want to be present on my blog. way before people actually ready what i wrote ; this was the space i used for thoughts & heavy subjects.

there are so many articles // opinions out there talking about politics // feelings // gun control // aspergers // mental health // education // security. that is not what i want to share today.

like you, i want to help. but i am 20 hours a way.
so, what can we do?
below is a list of places you can send money // well wishes // blankets and a few other things.
if you have other resources ; please leave them in the comments.

1) project linus makes & sends blankets to children in need.
they have committed to sending over 700 blankets for the children affected by the shooting. if you knit // sew // crochet // quilt, you can make a blanket to be sent to newtown.
not crafty? thats okay! they are also taking monetary donations.
a doll & a blanket are two of the most powerful and comforting things a child in distress can have.
facebook // website

2) the newtown memorial fund has been set-up by a lifelong resident of newtown. his short-term goal is to provide financial relief for funeral expenses for the families.
long-term, he would like to create a scholarship program for newtown students who will be attending college.

3) my sandy hook family fund is accepting money that will be directly donated to the families affected. money will be used for food, rent, daycare & other living expenses, as well as the immediate need for funeral costs.

4) little emilie parker lost her life in the shooting & her family has set up a memorial fund. there is also an address to send cards.
the emilie parker memorial account

5) noah pozner also lost his little life last friday & his family also has a fund set up.
the money will go towards expenses and grief counseling [he has a twin sister & other siblings who were also in the school at the time].
the noah pozner family fund

6) you can also send notes // letters // cards directly to the school
[i am not sure EXACTLY how often the mail will be checked // delivered, considering the scene and the investigation ; but im sure they have a plan considering people all of the world are sending condolences]
Sandy Hook Elementary School
12 Dickenson Drive
Sandy Hook, CT 06482

7) also, the newtown police department could use some hugs & good vibes in the form of cards & letters.
thinking about the horrific images these men & women have had to endure these past few days really pains my heart.
mail can be send to :
Newtown Police Department
3 Main Street
Newtown, CT 06470

i know that not everyone is able to donate financially. but if you are able to send a small amount of money or a thoughtful card ; that would be great.
the universe can always use a bit more love.

be well, everybody. smile at a stranger. thank a teacher. tell a child they are special. take a minute for yourself.

: ten [more] kickstarter campaigns that can change the world :

happy monday!
last month, i blogged about ten really great kickstarter programs.
unfamiliar with kickstarter?
its a website where creative humans can propose their ideas & ask for backers. when you back an idea, you get a perk for being a part of the creative idea.
example : there is a vegan fudge shop in utah that i backed. for backing, i get 1/3lb of vegan fudge.
so, you get something cool. you get to be apart of an amazing dream. and one more incredible idea becomes a business.

today, i have 10 more great campaigns that are still looking for donations. $1, $3, $5 can change someones life. [and really, who doesnt want to see a dream come true?!]

1) the greenhouse project from la, california. its a 17-acre piece of property. they are looking for funding to build a greenhouse for their small, family farm. the family currently starts all their seeds in their living room! a greenhouse would allow them to start seeds year round. more seeds = more ORGANIC produce reaching MORE people. they also run a CSA. more space would equal more CSA members. more folks eating great produce. and two farmers able to stay small & organic.
donate here ; backing ends july 28th

2) plenty : a healthy grocery store in chicago. they want to create a 'bodega'-style corner grocery that focuses on local & organic food. supporting small, local [organic] merchants & farmers will benefit all of us ; even if the store is on the other side of the country! they are also looking to carry foods that cater to folks with different dietary restrictions [gf, vegan, allergy-friendly, ect]

support them here ; backing ends august 1st

3) earth day farm ; a food project from holland, michigan. michele has created an urban organic farm in the parking lot of a STRIP MALL! i love this! most of the stores have left the mall ; so its just a large strip of land that nobody is using. the money will be used to finish the irrigation system & to buy compost. they also have a number of other expensive costs ; like building a market stand to sell their produce. this is another great project that benefits all of us. 

donate here ; backing ends july 26th.

4) the east honey hill project from pensacola, florida! this is one of my faves! thomas & his team are looking for money to continue to raise & sell pure, raw, sustainable honey. *note : a lot of vegans dont eat honey. i DO eat honey, but only when its been locally sourced without disrupting the hive. a lot of honey found is stores is brought over from china, where there are little regulations & a lot of 'crap' going into the honey. by supporting a project like this, you are supporting local farmers & protecting bees for years to come. and if you give $20, you get a pint of honey & a lip balm. [im doing this for sure!]

donate here ; backing ends august 6th!

5) one of the reasons i love kickstarter is that you can directly impact a project that will be used to educate people. this project is one of those. drag dad is a documentary about tyra sanchez, who is one of the most famous drag queens in nyc. he is also a single dad. the documentary will feature footage from both parts of james' [tyra's] life, along with interviews from he & his 6 year old son. if this project gets backed, it will be such a fabulous teaching tool!

donate here ; backing ends july 27th

6) veggie-go's is cool new food project out of boulder! veggie-go's are organic fruit & veggie leathers. this is a great idea! the money raised will go towards purchasing new equipment, renting their own space & getting into more shops. more shops mean more sales ; which means more people are eating fruits & veggies.

back their project here ; backing ends july 12th

7) jake pine brewery is a great project out of northern minnesota! the owners have been brewing locally for years, but are now hoping to create a taproom where they can sell beer onsite. they will have tours & growlers available. growlers are great because they can be used & reused again. no waste! and local beer is such a fun thing! backing projects in OTHER PEOPLES names is such a fun gift. i think that blake would love to be apart of this project ;)

donate here ; backing ends july 15th.

8) poorboy candy is another great project out of minnesota [minneapolis!] they create delicious caramels with quality ingredients. right now, they do not offer vegan caramels, but hopefully as they grow, they will be able to accommodate more folks. the money will be used for new equipment and a kitchen of their own [they currently share a space].

check it out here ; backing ends july 25th.

9) another brewery! this one sounds SO cool ; vault brewing company will be in yardley, pennslyvania. they will be offering beer, live jazz & wood-fired pizza. i love this! their interior will mimic a bank from the 1920s. the money they raise will go towards brewing equipment, a copper oven, and their interior design. this is a great project to get behind. and their logo [and prizes!] are really rad!

here, project ends august 1st.

10) this is my other favorite project! bear butter from new jersey. what? its a honey // peanut butter spread. sounds simple & delish ; i love it. the money raised will go for more sizes & varieties, truck transportation, and more. i am in with this project, without a doubt. $15 supports a dream & gets YOU an 8oz jar of bear butter.

back the project here ; backing ends august 4th.

what do you think?
i would love to head which project YOU support!
cheers.

ten kickstarter projects that can help change the planet : lessons on how to be a good human

happy tuesday!
im going to the dentist this afternoon ; ugh. makes my stomach turn just thinking about it.
the last time i went to the dentist [last fall!], i was bawling in the chair when i saw the assistant set out all of the tools.
good vibes this way, please!!

enough about me ; lets talk about saving the planet!
do you know kickstarter?! its one of my favorite sites.
if you have a cool product // idea // goal, you ask random people to help back your project.
when you choose to back a project, you usually get a cool perk [depending on how much you give!] & you are helping someone, somewhere follow an amazing dream.

blake & i have backed quite a few projects [one that actually took our money & closed up shop. RUDE!] but, i definitely believe in small businesses & dream chasing.

today, i wanted to share my top 10 super cool projects that are still looking for funding.
*most close in a few days ; so if you are interested in backing, i suggest you do it soon! [TODAY!]*
i know that a lot of people always think 'oh, this sounds cool, but i dont have any money.. but that reminds me, i need to run to the coffee shop for a $7 coffee.'
i am such a strong believer in good karma AND the idea that just a few bucks can really change the planet.

also, if you donate money and your project doesnt get backed [not enough money raised], you get your donation back!

here we go : 

1) YES! this project had me in tears. its a dollhouse. but wait, this dollhouse was created by three woman, all involved with science & math. the coolest part? the girls build this house from the bottom up! its totally customizable, which means the builder is in charge. the opportunities are endless. i really, really love this! their donation page is super inspiring. i highly recommend checking it out.
donate here ; backing ends on june 16th.

2) the bike frame handle! it connects to the frame of your bike, to make it easier to carry. its a leather strap, so its not vegan, BUT man, a product like this will really help out the biking community. also, the more money they can raise, the more they can explore vegan options!
donate here [ends july 7th]

3) i LOVE this one! muneca mexicana is raising money to bring her homemade, authentic mexican cooking into storefronts! [some of] her food is vegan friendly. she is based in mesa, arizona & owns a mexican food joint, but wants her food to be available to all.
the coolest part? any donation above $10, she will send YOU some authentic goodies!
donate here ; project ends june 28th

4) KONE coffee filter & brewing system. these smart folks are from portland [not surprised ;)] they created a super high-quality reusable coffee filter [made in the US!] head here to read the entire story ; the product is beautiful.
also, they set out to raise $5,000 & they are already at $85,000!!! think of how many filters they can produce to replace filters that end up in the trash each and every day!!
donate here ; backing ends june 30th]

5) this one is SO fun. misael created this giant beach towel to create a sense of community at the beach. he brings games, water, sunscreen & snacks for other beach-goers. his mission is to create positivity & openness. i love this! he is taking his beach towel on tour along the florida & east coast. the money raised will go towards transportation, snacks, supplies & promotion.
donate here. [backing ends july 6th]

 6) a documentary about living & surviving in antarctica! the man behind this project has been living // working there since 1998. the film would document a year in antarctica from the perspective of everyday workers, not scientists. you can donate as little as $1. $20 gives you an advanced copy of the film.
donate here [ends july 7th]

7) postick! another super clever idea! its a sticky postcard backing. add it to fabric, a photo or artwork & send it as a postcard.
this is quirky, simple & totally creative. and i also love that it encourages mail! i love sending & receiving mail. also, the more mail, the more post offices we can save!!
an $8 donation will get you a pack of 10 cards!
donate here ; project ends june 19th

8) meet chip! chip is a clock made entirely from recycled chipboard! man, you know how much i love recycled materials! if you donate $7-14, you get a set of coasters made from the scraps of the clocks! if you donate $15, you get a clock. there more you donate, the cooler the prizes. and hello, what a fun idea.
donate here ; project ends june 13th!!!!! [they are only $80 away from their goal!!!]

9) another gem out of portland, oregon. they are raising funds to create a social history app for phones. dont live in portland? [me neither], BUT creating an app that teaches residents & travelers about social history is something that could be replicated in all big cities. i would definitely download or pay for an app like this in each city i visited.
donate here ; backing ends june 30th

10) as soon as i saw this project, i was like, 'these folks [also] have to be from portland.' and they are. im telling you, the most inventive & creative folks i have come across have been from pdx!
anyways, kinetic creatures!! cardboard animals with easy-to-put-together parts & a little motor ; so they move!!! what a fun gift or project to promote creativity! they have full gear sets or mechanical turn-handels [depending on which you choose], so they can walk on their own.
$30 gets you your own animal ; anything less than that goes to support this amazing project!
the creators want these animals in youth workshops to promote confidence & building & thinking.
donate here ; project ends june 18th

and a fun perk from ME.

if you back ANY of these projects or any other kickstarter project! [at least a $5 donation], i will give you a 35% off discount code for ANYTHING in my shop!!

once you make your donation, send me an email & i will get you set up!! [dianapantz[at]gmail[dot]com]

*also, there are a few really cute farmers market totes heading to the shop this week!*

: small changes make a huge difference : what can you do to make the planet better? :

happy tuesday!
got your taxes sent in? [me too]

this is my tax prep all over the floor

if you have been following my blog for a while, or have been a customer, you know how important giving back is to me.
each month, i donate 5% of ALL proceeds to a different charity. blake & i then match that amount from our own pockets.
i never share this information to imply that i am better than someone else for giving. i share this with you, because i want you to know that it is possible. you can give any amount & it will make a difference. 
i dont have a lot of money. we dont go out to eat often. i have student debt. BUT each & every day, i try to do my part to be a better human.

this month, two of my april goals are [#8] pay it forward 2x & [#14] donate 5% of proceeds to charity:water.

in february, ashley [from the shine project], launched the 'pass it forward' program.
you purchase a card, do something nice & pass the card on. you go on the website, enter in number on the card & type out your act of kindness.
and the person you passed it onto will do the same. & so on & so forth. [and then the planet gets better]

last week, blake found a womens drivers license on the trail. so he picked it up & we sent it back to her [and included a pass it forward card]

we have 3 little free libraries in our neighborhood. you take a book, you leave a book. last week, i picked up two books. read one. and returned a different book with a card inside.

head over to the shine shop to grab a few cards!



also, 5% of all proceeds this month will go towards charity:water. [they provide wells, drilling equipment & clean water for folks in developing countries.]
one of my favorite things about charity:water, is that you can create your own campaign. you pick an occasion [your birthday, your wedding anniversary, just because] and you ask folks to support you [and a great cause]

for a while now, i have been following ericas weight loss journey through twitter [shes 3 pounds away from losing 100!!] & have been super inspired. in celebration of this huge milestone, she set up a charity:water campaign to raise $5,000! [so cool!]

here

wanna help her?!
head here to check out her campaign & donate directly.
OR purchase my '3-day a week vegan' e-cookbook'. $1 from each cookbook goes to her charity:water campaign. [so far, from the book sales, we have provided one child with safe drinking water for YEARS!]

small changes make such a HUGE difference.

tell us! 

will you purchase the shine cards? make a charity:water donation?

what small things do you do to make the universe better?!

: support handmade :

happy fourth!
i will post a bunch of fun photos from our weekend tonight/tomorrow.

three things : 

1) this is sho. she is one of my favorite folks in the universe. we met in college and have been close for a really long time! she takes amazing photos and she and her husband are moving to australia this summer. so, to help fund one with the other, she is offering 30% off of EVERYTHING in her etsy shop. type in code : aussieaussie at checkout.
here are a few of my faves :

[arent they amazing?]

2) i linked over to this blog the other night. and after scrolling around, i found this amazing giveaway. they are giving away over $400 worth of really great stuff. what do you have to do? you need to donate at least $10 to help support this family. [have a kleenex ready; youll need it] for every $10 donation you make, you get another entry. i dont know this family, but i do know what it feels like to lose someone to a terrible disease. if you can, please donate.

3) at the top of my page, did you see the newsletter link?! woo hoo! enter in your email address for my newsletter/mailing list and i will send you a 15% off coupon ; good for ANYTHING in my shop! [and read about fun things that are going on;) ]

have a safe day, everybody!

: do you have extra coupons lying around?! : lets help some storm victims! :

hi everybody.


so, i know that we all have causes. we all have things that are super important to us.
i try not to push my important stuff on other humans, but this is SO simple and EASY, that i just had to share.

i love a good deal. and there are a few great coupon sites that i go to everyday.
i ran across the post below a few days ago and decided to help out.

[each month, i give a portion of my sales to TWO organizations that are important to me.]
[one of them is ALWAYS world concern - they do amazing things in haiti, and the other is a new organization each month.]
[for may, we picked an organization that is doing relief work in the south for the tornados and flooding]

here is the post i found in its entirety :

SEND COUPONS.  Send coupons to a collection point in the South (see address below).  Coupons will be divided among seasoned couponers who KNOW how to work the deals, play the drugstore game, etc.  These fabulous people will turn your coupons into PRODUCTS which will then be DONATED to victims in numerous affected counties.

Their goal?  500 items donated

COME ON!!!  Let’s help them BLOW PAST that goal!

Here is some info from Hollie – including the basic concept for this coupon drive and what coupons would be the most helpful:

This week alone 11 items were completely free between 3 stores in my area which gave me this idea.   With an active network of couponers set up in different areas (those affected by the tornadoes in the southeast right now where I am have 5 active networks in place), we can make a huge difference with little cash and little effort by a few people.

Example:
11 items free x 6 coupons merchant allows = 66 items free PER shopper.
Multiply that by 10 shoppers in each geographical area and that is 660 items to go to those affected by the tornadoes last week with NO money spent out of pocket (less the cost of newspaper and stamp). Can you see the potential? My hope is to grow this into something that could fill boxes for our soldiers, shoe boxes for angel ministries, homeless shelters, battered women shelters and families affected by job loss.

I am asking all couponers who want to help to gather your coupons for all things hygiene:

Soap
Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Dental Floss
Deodorant
Razors
Tampons
Panty Liners
Lotion
After Shave
Denture Care
Laundry detergent

Every single coupon will add up to make a difference!

Mail your (non expired!) coupons to:
NorthPoint Church
Attn: Hollie
P.O. Box 444
Adairsville, GA 30103

tonight, blake and i went through a huge stack we had and sent about 45 coupons that will go out in the morning.

if you have a few [or get the sunday paper!!!], send them along.

please.

because, lets be honest : 

we are all in this together!

cheers.

: so far ..... :

no picture.
tiny post.
[tired brain]

today was a good day.
i sold two cowls.
and a scarf.
[mckellllllllll!]

also, i now have some of my favorite photo note cards up for sale at the crow river coffee company in watertown, minnesota. [website]
this is very exciting.

i have some really big plans for great places supporting my work.
[it makes my heart happy to see local businesses supporting artists that are following their hearts]

also, donation update : so far, in the month of feburary, we are donating over $60 to world concern!
this is great. its still the beginning of the month.
you can help.
go here.
find something for somebody that is really cool.
i will do the rest.
[donate 40% of your purchase AND then i will match your donation to world concern]
[not bad]

if there isnt anything you need, then please pass along the info. tell your friends. share the story.

: BIG NEWS! :

friday = a lot of posts today.
[i have a lot to say]

so, haiti has a huge place in my heart.
[i know there are a bunch of new readers this month : hi everybody!]
this summer, blake and i spent a month in haiti, helping to haul rubble and deconstruct a boys home that fell in the quake.
we had an incredible trip. we both learned so much. hard work. not a lot of food. no running water. and gosh, people were so amazing to us.
i will never forget this time we were walking in an area that was absolutely r.o.c.k.e.d with rubble and disaster and all these people came out to greet us and try and touch our white skin as we were walking by. this little boy [maybe 5 or 6?] looked right at me and said 'thank you, thank you'. and i lost it. oh, i cried. here is this tiny human that is so thankful for our presence. we live with so much. too much. full of indulgence and all we want is moremoremoremore. and he had a few chickens. and was living in devastation. and he just wanted to say thank you.

so, we talk about haiti all the time. we keep in touch with a lot of the guys we worked with. we read the news and follow their politics. we are always planning our next trip and what we can do to help.

you can help. [please do]

heres how.

for the month of feburary, i am working with world concern. they do amazing things in haiti [and the rest of the world] through world concern, you can purchase mirco loans, buy goats for children so they can learn husbandry, sell the milk and help support their families. you can also buy kits to prevent and control cholera. with your purchase, they have trained educators that work with haitians to dispel rumors and educate. check out their site for waaaaay more opprotunities.

all of that being said, any purchase you make on in my shop from now - feb 28, i am donating 40% OF ALL PURCHASES directly to them. on top of that, blake and i will be MATCHING the donation from our own pockets. haiti is so special to us, and we really believe that we can all make a change for this country.

great idea, but dont need anything from the shop?
thats okay. leave me a comment and i will let you know how to help us. you can also donate directly to world concern. but remember, through us, we will match what you give.

i have new items being added this weekend!
[coasters, baby leg warmers, cozies, oh my!]
remember, i also do custom orders.