Shopping with a Purpose {and another GIVEAWAY!}

Giveaway has ended.  Congratulations, Catrina!!

.......................................................................................................................

I really love shopping.  However, shopping with multiple children provides quite a challenge!  In fact, over the last 8.5 years (since baby #1 was born into our family), my shopping habits have changed drastically.  Where I once frequented the mall and stores like my beloved Target, I now do much of my shopping from the comforts of my living room via the Internet.  There are both good and bad aspects about this, I think, but my favorite thing about shopping online is that the Internet provides this really amazing forum for easily making purchases that directly affect specific causes.  This was definitely advantageous as we raised funds for our adoption.  So, when we sat up this blog and the three of us were discussing different ways to encourage adoptive families, it just seemed natural that we would provide advertising space for families raising money for their adoptions.  Thus, the "Shopping with a Purpose" tab was born.

Options:

Basically, we will allow adoptive families to send us the necessary information (as outlined on the SwaP page) and we'll advertise there for as long as the fundraiser is taking place.  

A second option in addition to the advertising space is that a family can provide an item from their fundraiser for a giveaway and we will feature them on a feature blog post (like the one below).  This option will also mean free advertising through our Facebook page and Instagram account. 

Thirdly, if you are planning to attend the Joy in the Journey retreat in February, we are going to have some FREE booth space for people raising money for adoptions/orphan care.  See the Retreat Vendor tab for information on this option!

The 1500 Tree Project {and GIVEAWAY}:

Nate, Angie, and {future big brother} Levi Elder are currently in the process of completing their paperwork and waiting on a referral from Taiwan.  To raise money for their adoption, Angie has put together "The 1500 Tree Project", selling these adorable little hand-crafted trees on canvas.

The idea behind The 1500 Tree Project is to create and sell 1500 of these sweet little trees and fully fund their second adoption.  In Angie's words, The 1500 Tree Project is...

"1500 trees made. 1500 trees sold. One fully funded adoption.  But really, it’s so much more than that.  It’s cutting leaves out of colorful paper while my son toddles around the living room, babbling away. It’s thinking about designs as my husband plucks away at his upright bass guitar, practicing a bluegrass tune. It’s piecing together a tree when we chat about our days, with the low hum of the baby monitor buzzing in the background with our toddler’s sleeping breaths.  It means my son will gain a sibling who shares his birth country and our family.  It means one less orphan in the world.  The 1500 Tree Project is love and hope, poured into a little 6×6 canvas. Joy really is the heartbeat of our shop and the spirit I pour into every piece I produce."

Information for The 1500 Tree Project {including a link to order and a discount code for our readers} is currently listed in our Shopping with a Purpose page. 

In addition, Angie is hosting a GIVEAWAY right here, starting right now!  The winner of this giveaway will will receive one tree of their choice from Angie's store and will be announced at the close of the giveaway at midnight (central) on Monday, July 29th.

You may have up to two entries on this giveaway by answering the two questions on the Rafflecopter form below.  You will also get an additional FIVE entries if you purchase a tree during this giveaway and let us know about it on the Rafflecopter form!  Good luck!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway