Mindful Gift Giving.

Well, it's that time of the year again, when we all go overboard. Tables are filled with delicious meals, our bellies get a little rounder, hearts a little fuller, and our bank accounts, well, a little smaller. In all honesty, this time of the year stresses me out! It can be just plain excessive, but luckily it doesn't have to be. So yes, this post is about gift giving, but specifically about giving thoughtful gifts that impact more than just the person you give them to.

Since February of this year, Zach and I have been practicing a zero/low waste lifestyle, and it has surprisingly been enjoyable on many levels. So as this holiday season approaches, we have decided to purchase, support rather, local businesses and artists if at all possible. Having grown up surrounded by many family-owned businesses, I know first-hand just how important it is when your community supports your family's endeavors as opposed to shopping at the big-box stores. To give you some perspective, this way of thinking goes back to my childhood when my dad was working for his family business called Teske Pet and Garden. Located in Moline, IL, the store has been around for 96 years and first opened as "Teske's Seed & Feed" in 1922 by Al Teske. Then in 1926, Al's nephew, Carl (Ralph) Bingham, started working alongside him, eventually taking over the entire business in 1960 when Al passed. This matters because Ralph Bingham was my great-grandfather. Nearly all of my aunts and uncles, cousins and siblings have worked in that store in one way or another. I, on the other hand, only worked there one day...a story for another time. I have many fond memories of the store: "working" there as a kid, picking out our many pets, choosing pumpkins for Halloween and rose bushes for Mother's Day. But the best time was always during the holidays. The aisles would be filled with goodies for pets, lights twinkled throughout the store, and you could bring your furry friends in to take pictures with Santa. The whole place was magical, and the best part were the rows and rows of Christmas trees that lined the exterior of the store, waiting to be taken home. Each year my parents would bring my sisters and I to the store to tree hunt, and each year they rotated who got to pick the tree. There's four of us, so you definitely felt special when your year came around. I remember my dad working extra during the holiday season, making sure customers were satisfied because their happiness directly influenced our home life. So when people bought their Christmas trees at Teske's, they, in turn, helped my parents buy a Christmas tree for us girls.

Now, as an adult, it is my responsibility to do the same for small, local businesses in my community. To drive this point in, even more, I'm an artist. So I value the time and energy it takes to be an artist and always find it disheartening when people would rather buy a piece of "art" from a big-box store...aka Target, Hobby Lobby, Bed, Bath, and Beyond, etc. instead of collecting an original piece. Why not support an artist? Why not directly impact someone's life? There are many Markers Markets taking place over the next few weeks, I've listed a few below, and I encourage you to check them out. Give local a chance. You are not only supporting individuals but their families. That's a gift in and of itself.

I understand that shopping local isn't always an option, so instead maybe consider supporting ethically made and Eco-friendly businesses. Since we are new parents this year, we are really excited about the holidays and glad we came across Cuddle + Kind; a business that makes ethically made stuffed dolls and provides meals to children in need. Every doll bought gives ten meals; a mission I can get behind, even it if isn't local. Another option is to make all your gifts. Yes, that sounds time-consuming, but so is shopping and driving and shopping and driving and so forth. Wouldn't it be nice to gift a hand-knitted scarf, a jar of fresh salsa, some handmade candles, or even a loaf of warm bread? Or what about shopping second-hand? There are so many thrift stores out there filled with treasures, and just because someone else didn't need it, doesn't mean it doesn't hold value. And don't forget about giving experiences over things. A gift card to someones favorite coffeeshop or book store, a membership to their local museum or zoo, or a pair of movie tickets for the two of you to go together. Gifts don't have to come in the form of a wrapped package. Remember the old saying, "It's the thought that counts".

Local Makers Markets & Events: ordered by date

1. Holiday Market - The Cannery, November 16th, 3-9pm

2. 309 Cultures Release Party - Naturally Yours Grocery, November 19th, 11am-2pm

3. Thanksgiving RiverFront Market - Downtown Peoria, November 17th, 9am-1pm

4. Black Friday Makers Market - Destihl Brewery, November 23rd, 11am-4pm

5. 25 on the 25th - Peoria Riverfront Museum, November 25th, 1-4pm

6. Boutique Holiday Market - Trailside Event Center, November 29th, 4-9pm

7. Holiday Pop-Up Shop - Jan Brandt Gallery, December 7th, 3-7pm & December 8th, 1-5pm

8. 2nd Annual Jingle Bell Craft And Vendor Show - East Peoria Festival Building, December 9th, 10am–3pm

*Markets listed are specific to my local community

**All photos were taken from Teske's Facebook page.