Holiday Gift Guide :: for your friend who rarely takes no for an answer, will eat ice cream for dinner any day, and wants her opinions & lifestyle to positively impact the lives of others

A necklace that isn't just pretty but empowering.
31bits is a company using design to empower people to rise above poverty.
Each necklace means jobs, education, counseling services, health education, finance training, and business mentorships for women and men in Uganda. Read more here.

A beanie for a good cause & a one-for-one initiative.
Love Your Melon brings hats to children battling cancer & donates 50% of the proceeds to CureSearch and the Pinky Swear Foundation to fund cancer research initiatives and provide immediate support for families. Best. Gift. Ever.

Grab a tee or sweatshirt benefiting beautiful animals all around the world.
VAUTE is “The World’s First All-Vegan Fashion Brand.” Buy from a line that says no to animal cruelty & yes to conscientious fashion choices. Many items from the casuals line support charities ending animal testing and harm.

Snag an incredibly powerful necklace.
Each old, used key is engraved with an empowering word and meant to be worn for the time you need it and then passed on to somebody else. A percentage of the sales go to Chrysalis, a non-profit creating a pathway to self-sufficiency for homeless and low-income individuals by providing the resources and support needed to find and retain employment.

Give her something that can hold her necessities while providing meals for the hungry!
This bag provides 70 micronutrient packets to children in Guatemala. FEED is fighting against hunger in a tangible way. Each bag features the number of meals or micronutrient packets provided to those in need. I've bought several of their products and am always in awe of their impact and beauty.

A necklace or ring or cuff from an organization with an extremely powerful mission statement. Liberty United transforms illegal guns and ammunition provided by police into handcrafted jewelry. Every purchase helps to protect an at-risk child from gun violence. Read more about Liberty United here.

Nothing like a new pair of shoes!
If you've never heard of Toms, they are incredible. With their one-for-one promise, buying a pair of shoes means a pair for someone else in need, too.

Shop local! If you're in Wilmington, check out Pineapple Studios, a beautiful yoga and pottery studio. Jess sells her own work as well as the creations of others, and I personally want to buy it all. You can shop her store, and this beautiful mug, at the studio or online! When you shop local, you empower men and women in your community. Find a local store you love and support it will all of your heart.

Empower men and women all across the world with a $25 loan.
The loans from Kiva are repaid back to your account which can be lent out again and again and again. What a beautiful gift to give in the name of someone.

Check out the whole 2015 Gift Guide so far ...

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P.S.S. Have you checked out all of the
other places Emily's spreading the Great Vibes?

Holiday Gift Guide :: for your beautiful mother who comes to you for fashion advice, has egg sandwiches almost everyday, and always makes time for mom hugs

Photo from Cup of Jo

The dreamiest, coziest cardigan.
This one is also quite lovely.

A personalized calendar with family photos, original creations, or beautiful quotes. 
I love this calendar from Pinhole Press.

A massage certificate or evening of tranquility -
think: essential oils, special tea, a few candles, & a new book.

Pre-order a new romance novel (the season of giving)from one of her favorite authors
which you'll inevitably read because you're just as addicted.

The softest slippers she's been wanting for the last five years.
Perfect for pairing with that cardigan and a hot cup of coffee.

A weekend trip to explore with an overnight stay in a beautiful bed & breakfast.
This one reminds me of The Dragonfly Inn in Gilmore Girls.

Grab a few nostalgic favorites for stocking stuffers or group them together in a pretty basket.

These gorgeous Wooden Sandwich Boards.
Because she's notorious for eating off the cutting board.

A portable bonfire log for when the nights are chilly but beautiful.
This one only needs a match!

Check out the whole 2015 Gift Guide so far ...

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P.S. Affiliate links were used throughout this post. Thanks for supporting The Great Vibes Guide & Em through the holidays! Xx.

Subscribe to The Newsletter.

Subscribe to The Newsletter.

P.S.S. Did you know you get a free 5 Tips to Great Vibes Guide & grocery store printable when you sign up for The Newsletter? >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

P.S.S.S. Have you checked out all of the
other places Emily's spreading the Great Vibes?

Book Club :: Mindy Kaling's, Why Not Me? Part Two - Take This Job And Love It

Today we're delving into the next section of Mindy Kaling's second novel, Why Not Me? This part is all about her career, her wanting and demanding more, and all of the questions that come with following your passions. Did you relate at all?

If you've missed any prior Book Club get-togethers, head over to Book Club and catch up! Remember, the first person to comment in our discussion gets a FREE copy of our next Book Club read. Still haven't grabbed the book? It's not too late. Promise! Buy it here.

For December 18th :: Love, Dating, And Boys Who Ru(i)n the World  - Soup Snakes is my favorite of this entire section ;)

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Question Time

How to Get Your Own TV Show (and Nearly Die of Anxiety)::

+ Have you ever grown restless with or felt stuck in your job?

+ Do you think Mindy Kaling was ungrateful to wonder what more there could be for her? Or complacent if she hadn't?

Mindy Lahiri, MD, Everygirl, Mild Sociopath::

+ I thought the comparison between her and Mindy Lahiri was hilarious. Especially "see food poisoning as an opportunity to springboard into a new exercise regimen".
Did anything on those lists spark you as funny, thought provoking, or curious?

On Being a Mentor, by Greg Daniels::

+ During my senior year of high school, I spoke on the benefits of mentoring and have been fortunate to have some incredible mentors over the years.
What does being a mentor mean to you? 

+ Daniels mentions having children as the main reason for becoming a mentor. For all of the Moms & Dads reading this, did you experience something similar? Are you more patient with those learning in your workplace or just life in general? Are you more willing to impart your knowledge?

I Love Sex Scenes! ::

+ I think her quote, "Sex scenes are the tits. You're welcome." just about summed up this section. It seems tv shows, advertisements, movies - and just about everywhere else - fuels the mentality that sex sells.
How do you feel about sex in the media?

+ Getting personal, what do you think it would be like to make a sex scene for a tv show or movie? I think actresses and actors are quite brave!

Coming This Fall::

+ I'm definitely guilty of watching the types of shows she describes.
How about you? Any description you liked best?

A Day in the Life of Mindy Kaling::

+ Initially, I couldn't help but be exhausted by her daily life. Then I realized she is doing what she loves (and I have very similar hours - gasp!!!).  Even when the hours are long and tough, there's something so satisfying about putting together a piece of your soul for the public.
Do you have a passion like this?

Bad Sport::

+ I'll admit I'm a closet bad sport. I'll deny it if anyone brings it up, but I do love to win. It makes me feel all glowy and strong inside.
Are you a bad sport?

+ I was in awe of how poised and in control she was during the nominations. I loved reading this section and knowing the behind-the-scenes of that moment.
What do you do when you're trying to put on a brave face?

Any other thoughts?

That's all of the questions I have to spark conversation for now... Hop down to the comments and give it a whirl -- no thought too big, small, unwanted (within reason), or otherwise! Remember, the first person to comment gets a FREE copy of our next book.

*affiliate links were used in this post :: thanks for supporting The Great Vibes Guide & me! Xx.

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Subscribe to The Newsletter.

Subscribe to The Newsletter.

P.S. Did you know you get a free 5 Tips to Great Vibes Guide & grocery store printable when you sign up for The Newsletter? >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

P.S.S. Have you checked out all of the
other places Emily's spreading the Great Vibes?