Give a little back: And get something in return!
December 13, 2008 by Aly Walansky
Filed under Beauty, Friends of eBeauty Daily, Grooming your man, events, gift-ideas
With the economy as it is, spending money wisely is more important than ever. Gift giving is a wonderful thing – and should continue to be – but we need to be conscious of how we spend our dollars. Before you tear open your wallet, ask yourself: Will this gift truly be appreciated?
This question was at the forefront of my mind earlier this afternoon when I opened up a holiday gift from TOMS Shoes. The gift included a certificate good for a free pair of shoes on their site, and I was elated to see a huge array of fun styles for not only gals – but men and kids as well. (Check out the Red Wrap Boot at left…it was my favorite style, but there’s tons of others you may like as well!)
The story of TOMS Shoes is a fascinating one. Founder Blake Mycoskie was in Argentina several years back and took a liking to the traditional shoes of the South American country. On a whim of sorts, Mycoskie decided to start a shoe company that brought the unique footwear to an international market.
Humanitarian aims aside (for every shoe you buy, TOMS donates one to a child in need), the things are actually completely vegan and incredibly comfortable. And on top of that, they’re affordable! (Many styles are around $40).
Right now, 1,000,000 men, women and children are suffering from PODOCONIOSIS in Ethiopia. Podoconiosis is a soil-transmitted disease caused by walking barefoot in silica-rich soil. Silica is ancient volcanic glass that penetrates the skin and makes its way into the lymphatic system. The feet and lower legs swell, open sores and ulcers develop, and infection sets in. But there is good news: PODOCONIOSIS IS 100% PREVENTABLE – all it takes is a pair of shoes. So help TOMS put shoes on children’s feet in Ethiopia to help prevent this disease.
TOMS just launched their Holiday Project this month and their goal is to donate 30,000 shoes to children in Ethiopia in 30 days. If you have a moment, please check out the video on YouTube – it’s quite powerful (and also shareable and embeddable if you have FaceBook, etc) :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
In conjunction with this campaign, TOMS is offering one eBeautyDaily reader a free TOMS Shoes Holiday Gift Set, which includes a copy of the award-winning For Tomorrow – The TOMS Shoes Story film and a gift card for a pair of TOMS (up to $50 value, which covers all but the TOMS Wrap Boot). The giveaway begins today, and will end Dec. 24th. To enter, simply leave a comment with the most meaningful gift you’ve ever received – or given. Good luck – and happy holidays!!!
The referral for my daughter’s adoption.
One of the most meaningful gifts I ever received was a set of silverware given to me by my Grandfather. This set of silver was purchased for his mother when he started his first job working for the railway (where he continued to work for 48 years!). I felt honoured that he felt that I should have this beautiful gift.
Many years ago, I found boxes of old photgraphs in the front hall closet. I organized them all in photo albums and gave this to my Mother, who adored this gift!
I make a scrapbook for my boyfriend every year that we have been together for our anniversary. (Up to year 6 now!) And it is so much fun to look through together.
The most meaningful gift I have ever received is a bible in memory of my Dad who had passed away during the yr.. As this was his favorite book it meant alot to me .
Today a box came and in it was the most meaningful gift I have ever received. My mom died on December 12th and I was not there to say goodbye as she lived in Maine and I live down South. My sister had sent the box. In the box was a list in her handwriting with my name on it. Beside the list were what she had ordered for me for Christmas. She was pretty ill so could not leave home so she did all her shopping in catolgues. Inside the box was afghan which had a saying about “my special daughter” there was also a book which is called special daughter and says how much a daughter is loved. I have been crying since. I not only cherish my afghan and book but most of all that little piece of paper with my name on it that she had wrote.
When we were married, we couldn’t afford more than a gold wedding band for each of us. Last Christmas, my husband gave me a diamond solitaire to go with the ring. It is lovely, and it means so much to me.
The best gift I have ever received in all my life was my 4 wonderful children!
I won a gift certificate for a pair of shoes from CityLine.ca this year!
Happy Holidays!!!
Best Regards
~margaret~
My most meaningful gift was on my 21st birthday, when my boyfriend at the time gave me 21 gifts to celebrate it! Each gift was uniquely me – clothes, books, chocolate, items for my apartment – and he took such a long time to get them for me, and I’ve never forgotten that day!
The most meaningful gift I ever got was when the legal aide helping us the first year my daughter and I got away from a bad situation helped my daughter give me a surprise Christmas present. It was a candle with a mommy and baby snowperson on a wintry night background. We light this candle every year (6th year this year) to remind us of how lucky we are and how thankful we are to all who helped us.
I got a diamond promise ring from my close friend.
I received some heirlooms from my great grandma after she passed away.
The most meaningful gift was from my 9 year old son who saved his allowance to buy me a nice lighted makeup mirror.
That’s easy the gift I’ve given and been given is the life of my child. My miracle baby who has enriched so many lives, my own, my families….
a puppy from my hubby
The present that I remember most of all did not come wrapped in a fancy package with a frilly bow. It was a gift given to me by my younger sister who must have been about four years old at that time. She didn’t have the money or means to buy Christmas presents for her siblings but she understood the idea of giving and wanted to participate. So she took a little scratchpad of 3×5 paper and made a drawing for each of us. She rolled them up into little scrolls and tied them with a tiny piece of white curling ribbon.
I remember my brothers opened it up and said the obligatory thank you’s but then cast them aside never to be thought of again. Not me. I carefully opened that little package to see the simplest little drawing of a lion and it touched my heart to its center. I treasured that gift of love so completely and it’s remained my favorite gift to this day.
Last year I made scrapbooks for my husband and his 3 brothers. Their mother passed away in 1994 and the youngest boy was 8. I included special times with their mom like reading, birthdays, Christmas, etc.
My sister who lives out of town suprised me with a visit on Christmas
Just last year I scanned photos of my grandson and had Kodak gallery make a scrapbook. He is over 30 years old and these photos were from infancy to present, including his wife and child. I gave the album to his mother for Christmas.
The most meaningful gift I received was from my husband. He wrote a poem about me and carved it in stone. It’s my most precious possession!
My most meaningful gift was a teddy bear, i mentioned one I had when i was a child and he tracked one down for me
The best gift our family ever gives is to our local “Operation Christmas Spirit”. We adopt a marine family at Camp Pendleton each Christmas here in Southern California. This year the Barja family benefited from our holiday giving with Antonio (about to be deployed), his wife Martha, and their 3 month old son.
My dad gave me a wallet, and it reminded me to save money.
The best gift I received was my son (about a week before Christmas many years ago). I think the best gift I gave was a lovely gold cross necklace to my sister when she joined her church.
a piece of slate with a snowman painted on it my son made at school
cookware
That’s a difficult one to answer, as the preschool ornaments my boys made many years ago have to be near the top of my list. Cash from my parents to repair my VW Beetle when I was newly married and short on money, and a surprise from my husband:he took my college diploma and had it professionally framed.
My diamond necklace from my husband of four days…fourteen years ago.
If I could choose a pair of Toms Shoes it would be the Tyler Ramsey Hand Painted Tiny TOMS White because they are so unique.
My most meaningful gift was given to me by my oldest son…handcrafted clay and painted what he described as colors of an eyeball…I’ve kept that treasure safely tucked away for trips we both can share going down memory lane in the years to come.
This year I got a brand new DeLL with 64 bit Window Vista!
Best gift ever!
It was my life after having a heart attack two years ago this month.
I gave the gift of “freedom” to someone I didn’t know.
I would give this to my good friend. She´s in the early months of pregnancy and feels rotten and unattractive most of the time. I think she´d really appreciate it.
“Treat everyone with politeness, even those who are rude to you – not because they are nice, but because you are. †~Author Unknown
I try to be especially kind during the holiday season. Thanks!!!
My Grandmother was ill with cancer. She was 85 years old. I gave her a beautiful bound five year Diary. Inside I wrote my graduation from high school date. The year I expected to get married. I was 15 at the time. She looked at it and said ”I can’t let you waste all that money” She lived to be 103 years old. I think that was the best gift I ever gave.
My engagement ring from my husband.
a sparkly christmas ball
i thought it was very cute when someone named a star for me.
i also like it when i receive a beauty basket or make-up!
a woody allen tote bag that my friend made me by hand, it’s sooo cool!
The most meaningful gift I’ve ever received was a porcelain unicorn from my fiance.
This year I received a digital picture frame from my kids. They’re going to fill it with pictures of them and my grand-children. That’s all I really needed. . . that and a back/neck chair massager. Maybe I’ll get that for my birthday on the 27th. LOL Thanks for the contest.
I won $150 GC from Reitmans in this past summer, what I realy wanted for myself and I give it away for Christmas to my friend. She needed more then me!