Mother’s Day Across the Pond...

March 14 — Celebrating Mother’s Day Across the Pond

Just one day to celebrate how amazing Mum is? It’s hardly enough. The woman who has put her life into celebrating your existence, molding you, guiding you and helping you through every one of life’s trials from first steps to first kisses and all the way to first mortgages deserves much more than a day… the woman deserves a medal!

You’ve never been easy and yet somehow she has loved you through it all. The few responsibilities on your side of this relationship include showering her with gifts on Mother’s Day. Something a grateful child like you surely planned for weeks ago…

Pardon me, what was that? Oh, I see. You haven’t found anything for Mum yet… True, finding a gift that embodies the miracle that is your mother can be difficult. But it doesn’t have to be. We’ve got a list of retailers that is so unique you are certain to find a treasure for your beloved Mum (and these gifts will not only make Mummy happy but will help to make a difference in the world too). Now that’s how she raised you. Well done!

Liberty of London knows that a little luxury goes a long way. This sentiment is reflected in their collection of stylish gifts that sing classic femininity. Pamper Mum with a beauty set or choose from a fabulous fragrance selection. Perhaps choose something from a range of gifts, from iconic silk scarves, candles and stunning leather accessories to eye-catching stationary sets, journals or flowers.

What – too many choices? The Liberty Gift Coin could be the perfect solution, a minted coin redeemable on any item in the Liberty store so she can choose for herself from a vast array of treats.

This store is marvelous! Known not only for their exquisite designs, but also for the positive social impact every sale inspires. Every beautiful garment that People Tree makes is connected to an equally beautiful change happening somewhere in the world. They provide you with exclusive fashions while, at the same time, improving the lives and environment of artisans and farmers in developing countries who work to produce it. It’s Fair Trade throughout.

Mum’s going to love hearing that her gift helped support socially responsible trade, as well as knowing that a percentage of her gift purchase went to her favorite nonprofit group. This may even upgrade you to favorite-child status!

Looking for something truly unique? NOVICA is calling. At the deepest essence of their philosophy, they are committed to making the world a smaller place. They want you to feel an attachment to the product you buy and to know who created it. They give artists and artisans around the world a global platform to express their true artistic talents while providing you with access to extraordinary, hard-to-find items at great values that only the Internet infrastructure can allow.

The beauty and excellence that each item exudes, along with a story that can be traced back to the hands of its creator, will make your Mum’s day – quite grand indeed!

Know a fashionista mum-to-be? You’ll find that the art of maternity apparel takes center stage at A Pea in the Pod. Gift her from a selection of maternity clothes from all her favorite designers – Lilly Pulitzer, Splendid, Velvet, Vince and more. Choose from trendy maternity blouses to classic maternity skirts and knickers with both belly elastic and a whole lotta Va-Va-Voom!

Having had a baby is one thing that unifies all mothers everywhere. No Mother wants her baby to go without basic necessities that could give her child a chance at life. Your Mum is empathetic to how scary it can be when trying to provide all the things that will keep a beloved baby alive and thriving. She will adore a gift that supports children in need around the world through purchases made from the UNICEF store. UNICEF’s sales all go towards providing essential vitamins, vaccines and insecticide to hundreds of thousands of children each year. Oh, and did I mention that their store is full of hand crafted items of impeccable taste and beauty?

Treat Mum to a cozy night with the fire going, a nice cup of tea and her favorite BBC programme. Find all her fav hits at one convenient store! Plus you can preorder items and be the first to own hot-off-the-press DVD’s.

We all know everything you need – can be found at Marks and Sparks. It is truly the one stop shop! Of course you’ll find something for Mum and probably a few things for yourself as well… With the convenience of online shopping do it all from the comfort of your own home.

One of my favorites designers… Ted Baker does Mod so well! Simple yet classic designs are sophisticated and sharp while maintaining a Rock N’ Roll edge. If your wife juggles motherhood and a full time job go ahead and get her something so chic she can forget, for a moment, the stressful balancing act that is her life. Let her indulge a bit in fashion therapy – sometimes it makes all the difference in the world…

Mum’s got a green thumb? Get her all geared up for Spring planting. Flowers, veggies, tools, composters and clever gift packages will quite certainly make her day.

Or maybe you just want to stick to the classics – every Mother LOVES flowers. You simply can’t go wrong with a gorgeous bouquet. You also can’t go wrong with free shipping on Mother’s Day weekend! Whether it’s traditional or out-of-the-ordinary gifts you’re looking for this Mother’s Day, you are sure to find the perfect item at nonprofitshoppingmall.com.

11 Easy ways to have a pink and green Valentine's Day!

Show your significant other and best buds you really care by thinking pink and green this February 14. And since volunteering and contributing to nonprofits is the new green, go gift shopping at Do Something's nonprofit shopping mall. Many of the gift ideas below are available on the site, which donates a portion to Do Something. So surf over, and shop away! You’ll feel great knowing that you’re spreading love and giving back this Valentine’s Day! (Psst: Email this guide around so you can be on the receiving end of some of these goodies!)

1. Send an e-card . . . American Greetings Corporation reports that around a billion physical valentines are mailed each year. If one billion cards were laid out end to end, they would stretch around the world five times. Whoa, that's a lot of trees – and trees help our planet by soaking up that bad, global warming-causing carbon dioxide. Not to mention, emailed V-cards also make cents in this economy.
2. . . . .or a recycled one. Determined to deliver physical proof of your love? Buy recycled paper and make your own heart-shaped greetings (Aww!) or Google eco-friendly card brands for purchase.
3. Donate to an environmental organization. It doesn’t have to be a lot of money – it’s the thought that counts. This gift’s a particularly good idea for the serious eco geek in your life or the parent who has everything.
4. Give green flowers. No, not weeds or clovers (though if you find a four-leaf one, you might want to save it for next month). Here’s the scoop: Nearly 90% of V-Day roses are imported from Colombia and Ecuador. In addition to the air freight costs, most flower growers there need not adhere to the safety standards that produce suppliers do. This means their flowers may be doused in chemicals to maintain their unblemished appearance. So check out VeriFlora-certified flowers or 1-800-Flowers (both are available on Do Something's shopping mall). The blooms are sustainably grown, guaranteeing not only adherence to the highest of environmental standards, but also fair labor practices.
5. Buy a gift card for a yoga or pilates class. #1: We all need to get off the couch and get in shape. #2: Your local health club or spa is probably hurting for business (dang recession!). #3: Always give a gift that you’d like yourself. Here’s an idea: buy yourself a class too and go together.
6. Think fair-trade chocolate. Valentine's Day will be extra sweet for you, your beloved and the cocoa farmers too. Farming families earn a price for their product that is adequate to meet their basic human needs. Additionally, environmentally sustainable production methods are required, and you can be assured that forced and abusive child labor was not involved. Organic Style has some great options and is available on Do Something's shopping mall. Search for their "Life is Sweet" Fair Trade Chocolates or Organic Gourmet Signature Chocolates
7. Opt for natural perfume. It’s a popular gift this time of year, but did you know that your average fragrance is a total chemical cocktail – not something you'd want all over your body. Gross! There are a ton of beauty vendors on Do Something's shopping mall that sell all-natural brands of perfume. One name you can trust is LAVANILA. They carefully infuse pure essential oils with 100% active botanicals for natural fragrances that are fresh, clean, and nurturing.
8. Send a Valentine to a candy company . . . that doesn't sell organic fair-trade chocolate. Take action by asking the company to use fair-trade chocolate. Explain the benefits and why it would make you want to buy their candy.
9. Buy local groceries for your Feb. 14 dinner. What’s better than a V-date with your boyfriend, girlfriend, or a bunch of your best friends? A V-date that features delicious fare you’ll find at a farmer’s market or in the local section of your supermarket. Buying local foods saves on the transportation, energy, and packaging it takes to bring produce from faraway (and hence, cuts down on greenhouse gas emissions) while also supporting local farmers.
10. Lead the charge on making V-Day green at your school. Encourage your principal, class prez and/or team or club to start new, eco-fabulous traditions - like, for those sweetheart sales, swap out those plastic bags filled with candy for paper ones (tie ‘em with raffia – it’s organic!), use fair-trade chocolates, and look into potted flowers that can be replanted instead of single-stemmed ones that will die within a few days.
11. Go on an environmentally friendly retreat. Spend some time at a local wildlife reserve, park, or natural area – even if it means bundling up. Being at one with nature will remind you how precious our planet is. Or see if your parents might consider a V-Day getaway. This year Feb. 14 falls on a long weekend (it’s also President’s Weekend) so the timing is perfect. We love Gaiam’s earth-friendly travel options and there are some other great travel deals out there too!

Want to shop for a good cause all the time? Just download this widget (http://shop.dosomething.org/shop/widgets/9) and anytime you buy something at your favorite shopping sites, a portion will come back to Do Something (and cost you nothing!). How sweet is that!

All the Rage this Valentine's Day...

What’s the buzz on this year’s perfect Valentine’s gift? Saying ‘I Love You’ with Speaking Roses®! With a gold ‘I Love You’ imprinted on each rose bud, saying it with flowers takes on a whole new meaning…

Just in time for Valentines Day… nonprofitshoppingmall.com is happy to introduce our new online floral retailer Fleurop.com — world renowned for their quality, efficiency and customer service. And now, with their line of rich red Speaking Roses®, you can add innovation to their list of kudos.

These lush Speaking Roses®, embossed with gold messages on their petals, like I Love You, Happy Valentine’s Day, Happy Anniversary, etc. are sure to make it clear, just how much you care.
The Speaking Roses® can be ordered with three (3), six (6) or twelve (12) imprinted rose petals and you can choose whether to add a vase or perhaps another dozen…

Start speaking the language of love at Fleurop.com. Type in the NPSM4YOU code when you checkout and save 20% on an a dozen red Speaking Roses® for your sweetheart today!

As an aside, I’m always a little leery of gimmicks, especially when it comes to the classics, but I have to say, that after seeing these premium Columbian roses with their gold imprinted messages up-close and personal, I fell in love. They are absolutely gorgeous –

Downside — while Fleurop.com has far-reaching delivery capabilities to over 150 countries worldwide, the Speaking Roses® are only available within the US. Upside — so why not buy ‘em here, hop a flight and then hand deliver them to the people you love. Wouldn’t that be a great Valentine’s Day gift?