This year, I've decided to do books. I was so busy working on my own edits that I wasn't sure I'd find the time, but I decided to go with some of my own favorite childhood reads from my local indie bookstore, Antigone Books. It took less than an hour and feels so much better than shopping on Amazon. I try to buy local or stuff that was made in America for all my Christmas shopping. I've been doing it for over a decade.
For several years now, my family has decided to donate to charity in lieu of gifts to each other. We have given to Unicef, Heifer, CharityWater, and OxFam to
name a few. Before selecting a charity, I always check them out at Charitynavigator.org to
find out how much of donations go to services and how much they pay the
CEO. (I can't stand charity CEOs who make millions.) I recommend
checking out your charity here before donating. You can even look at
their list of top-rated charities if you need ideas.
This year, I gave to the Arizona Friends of Foster Care Foundation,
where I was able to specify which program to direct my donation.
