I will admit it, I have always enjoyed shopping.  I am not, however, a shop 'till you drop shopper like my Mother has been known to be (Hi Mom!).  She does know how to find the bargains though.  But I am learning to buy less, asking myself if I really need it, if it will replace something else I am willing to part with or will it just add to our "stuff".

I have also learned that shopping can make a difference.  And that is really the best kind of shopping isn't it? I have purchased beautiful gifts from various places that make a difference either by providing financial help to people in need, bringing young women out of the sex trade and training them for a new life and sites that give a portion of their profits to a cause as well.

If you are an Amazon shopper (is anyone NOT an Amazon shopper...) and you haven't already checked out Amazon Smile, please do so.  You can choose from several charities (we have a family friend who works at Charity: Water so that is my choice) and each time you purchase an eligible item they give 0.5%.  That adds up over time.  (https://smile.amazon.com/ for more information). 

My daughter (Hi Bethany!) is an expert internet shopper as well as really good supporter of good causes.   Her and her husband gifted me with a favorite wood plaque for Christmas a couple years ago burned with "It is well" on it.  It is simple and beautiful and I loved/love it.  Then she told me the story of the creators and their Etsy shop Grace and Salt and I loved it more.  

They are a beautiful couple who traveled to Uganda to adopt a son, ended up staying 15 months (during which time the adoptive mom had a scary medical event, was diagnosed with type I diabetes) and came home with a son AND a daughter (also with Type I diabetes).  There is SO much to their story and I would suggest maybe starting with this post here on their blog for more:  http://graceandsalt.net/it-is-finished/.  

They began fundraising to help pay for these adoptions and then it morphed into them featuring others adopting and fund raising for them as well.  The site currently has a sale on necklaces for just $10.  "All the necklaces in the shop are made by a local Ugandan women who is so dear to us and helped care for our sweet June Bug when she was first diagnosed. We have hired her to make necklaces to support her family and 8 children. They do this as a way to pay for her kids to attend school. Every evening the family makes beads together and is such a beautiful sight to see as they sit and laugh together as they roll the paper. This is a small but sweet way you can help support our adoption costs."  

You can read so much more on the blog, follow them on Facebook, or @graceandsalt on Instagram.  Be sure to check them out on Etsy as well. 




For today's give-away I am happy to be gifting a beautiful copper and metal cuff from Grace and Salt.  It is no longer available in the shop so you will feel special getting the last one!  For an opportunity to win please leave a comment here on the blog or on the blog Facebook page. 

For an extra chance "like" (and enter a separate comment letting me know you did so) a dandelion diary on Facebook here or follow on Instagram @a_dandeliondiary (let me know you did so in a separate comment).  

Get yet another additional entry by sharing this post on any social media site (and once again enter a separate comment letting me know you did).  

Please come back tomorrow for the final day of give-away's.  It has been a fun week! 

NOTE:  This giveaway is now closed.  



(Today's post is approved but not sponsored by Grace and Salt.)   

When I saw this cute plate and the sweet message on it, I couldn't pass it up.  It is a dessert sized plate that would be perfect for a morning muffin, a few sliced veggies for a snack or possibly an indulgent dessert like the mudd pie  favorite of my husband's family I am sharing below.  I know there are many versions of mudd pie and similar desserts but this is the one that makes an appearance at many of our birthday parties in lieu of cake.

Not too long ago I switched it up and used instant lemon pudding instead and have to say I enjoyed it more than the chocolate.


I also think the plate would be cute just sitting on your counter or in a small plate stand.  You can even add a plate hanger and add it to a wall.


The wooden spoon is a creation of talented Mr. Husband.  He is a great wood worker and his wooden spoons are also family favorites to use for stirring oh so many recipes or added to a counter top crock or holder of kitchen utensils.  Pretty and functional.

For an entry in today's* give-away just comment here or on the blog Facebook page and let me know what your favorite dessert is.  Unfortunately Mudd Pie is not on my current eating plan but that doesn't mean I won't indulge sometime in the future : )

                   * NOTE: Wednesday give-away now closed.

Happy Monday friends!  For the past week or so I have felt the nervous excitement in the air as kids are returning or preparing to return to school, teachers are gearing up to welcome students back and parents are either sad or happy that summer is coming to a close.  Maybe a mixture of both.  

While out running errands Saturday the back to school shoppers were out in full force.  Here in the Pacific Northwest we used to see back to school clothes (including winter coats and all) in the stores toward the beginning of July.  Such a shift has happened.  I only saw a few sweaters for sale and mostly just racks and racks of summer clearance.  Thankfully the weather is still warm here so the Fall clothing can wait.  

My daughter's favorite aisle was always (still is...) the school supplies:  Fresh notebooks waiting for facts or notes to friends, #2 yellow pencils just waiting to be sharpened to a fine point, giant pink erasers ready to erase the inevitable mistakes.  

Target always has their school supplies at the back of the store (you know, so you have to walk through the rest of the merchandise and hopefully find something else you might want/need) but I got distracted in that ever-enticing dollar aisle.  

It is true that their dollar aisle used to contain items that cost - yes, a dollar.  It is also true that now they have three price levels: $1, $3 and $5.  I am sure it is a marketing ploy but one that works on me.  "Look what I got in the Target dollar aisle!", even though it cost $3...

As a way to kick off the celebration of my 200th post, an updated blog look and back to school, today's give-away is straight from the Target dollar aisle and I actually found three fun items that were actually only $1 each!