Time for Tea

We can all listen to ourselves among other voices, but what are we hearing? When is silence a voice for an intimate conversation or the wind a secret that we have been longing to hear?  People allow the noises of the world to play behind them, yet so often we disguise our own voices in the sound bytes of our surroundings.  Words need the crisp clarity of articulation; the fresh air of an open mind.  A truth or an honest idea can be said and retracted, can be sampled before spread out as a preserved self-decree or a justified jam.  Coining a phrase is as easy as speaking an observation and giving it shine.  Granting your words push and volume allows them a strength and saucer to sit on.  Hearing the world’s echo back will send resonance of peace to your thoughtful mind.

Stand with your thoughts.  Or at least invite them to join you.  Take the tiny moments that the world rations out to us so methodically, and use them to digest the waterfalls of new knowledge that spiral around us everyday.  Provide yourself the chance to sip on words, pictures, sounds, sculptures: as though they are a perfectly steeped cup of tea.  Brewed leaves of a new life that you drink in at a pace that you can pour peacefully. It can provide such splendid aromas, warmth, and flavor to your body and mind.  Instead the world piles gallon buckets flowing from one to another all around us and demands us to lap up everything without a breath.  Gallons of distractions and fountains of filth that do nothing to bring us to our center.  Accept just one cup at a time.  No need to drown in your thoughts.

Strike the mountain pose or cross your limbs in a compact collection of your mind’s meanderings.  The path to rejuvenation can be as long, narrow, and winding as your imagination can draw.  Give it a line here and a patch of wildflowers over there and watch the steady hand of your mind draw for you exactly where you would like to mosey.  But, mosey into a trot and you have to flip your pencil over and erase a smudge in habit: breathe.  Give your soul the moments it needs in silence.  The sound it needs to sing.  The laughter it needs to bloom.  Remember a dish of life’s sweetness: one lump or two?  Savor the journey; life is the timeline, you are the one taking sips, so pinky up!

Guest Contributor: Kody Maynard

Kody is the Program Coordinator for the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Allies Resource Office at the University of Northern Colorado

You can contact Kody at his office: 970-351-2906 or www.unco.edu/glbta

Ceramic Cats

This month at The Authenticity Project our theme is “New Beginnings” which, for us, is packed with meaning. We have been working hard at finding ways to communicate how important it is for us as a culture and society to live from our hearts and follow our dreams - no matter how crazy it may seem to others - we have found that there is huge number of people out there who are ready to take the leap and live authentic lives. As we head into the New Year, we have some exciting things planned to get the message out there and hear stories of change from folks all over the world. Our hope is that we can come along side all those adventurous pioneers of change and help in any way we can. We love stories, we collect them like old ladies collect ceramic cats, and we have compiled quite the assortment of tales (no ‘sort of’ pun intended). But we need more!

As we prepare to spend the year planning and implementing retreats, trips, speaking engagements, and workshops we want to share what you have been up to also.

What are some stories from your life that would inspire or encourage others? What have you seen or experienced in your communities that need to be shared with a wider audience?

We are at a major crossroads in our society today; all you have to do is turn on the TV or visit a news website to see all the pain and suffering in the world. Unfortunately, what tends to happen when these events take place is a number of talking heads sitting behind desks facilitating agenda-driven dialogue that does little more than drive a wedge between ideologies. We believe that the time has come to put aside these differences and get busy making positive change through love and action. We are all capable of so much more than simply sharing our opinions. We can make the world a better place and it often takes little more than a smile, a hug or, a heart-felt moment of listening to the struggles of someone else.

So, again, as we dive headfirst into 2013 we are hoping that the New Beginnings you are focusing on go a little further than simply taking off a couple pounds, or reading more, but also moving where we can all spend some time listening, loving, and sharing ourselves a bit more.

Please share…

• What are some stories from your life that would inspire or encourage others?

• What have you seen or experienced in your communities that need to be shared with a wider audience?

• What are some things this year that you are looking to change about yourself and how you interact with others?

We look forward to hearing from you and learning about the things that move and inspire you!

Visit us on Facebook or email your stories to theauthenticityproject@gmail.com, Subject: My New Beginning!

Erik Ewing is the Program Director for The Authenticity Project, you can contact Erik at TheAuthenticityProject@gmail.com.

On the Eve of Something New

As 2013 looms quite close it seems we are presented with a clean slate. The new year. After reflecting on last year, there is hope for new adventures, hope for better news, or better opportunities. Or perhaps, hope for as many blessings as this year brought in. Either way, most face the turning of a year with eagerness; yearning for something new. 

Resolutions tend to be our way of stating what this next year will bring us (less coffee…or less cupcakes…or more time with family…or a new job). All worthy goals, but many don’t round the curve of March let alone make the next year fabulous. Life gets in the way, things change, the unexpected happens and before you know it you are look to the next year…hoping that one will be better than the current.

My challenge to you this New Year’s Eve is to think about and embrace a word for your next year. A word that embodies what your resolutions are, what you hope 2013 will be about.

A few examples to get those wheels turning:

If your resolution is to get in better shape, lose those x amount of pounds, etc. Perhaps your word should be Health. That not only encompasses your workout routine, extra serving of vegetables, but also the health of your relationships. The health of your mind and soul – with health in mind make decisions that allow you to take care of yourself (perhaps grab a journal to work through your thoughts and dreams) and to heal friendships that were once broken. Let go of ties that feed nothing but toxicity to your soul. You get the idea, health as the thesis to your 2013 essay. 

Some other worthy words that keep coming to my attention include: compassion, family, courage, authenticity.

My word for 2013 is grateful. I want the encounters and moments I have this next year to be seeped in gratefulness, taking note of the blessings small and large. I have no doubt next year will bring challenge, disappointment, and sorrow for that is the world we live in. But through the lens of gratefulness I hope to see the small blessings in the midst of those moments. A stunning sunrise, a shoulder to cry on, a cup of tea even if the conversation is heavy.

So when a word sparks your soul think about it as your “New Year’s Resolution”, your first word on a clean slate. What will it be? And please share with us at The Authenticity Project – we’d love to cheer you on! 

-Jennifer Anderson is Content Director of The Authenticity Project, you can contact Jennifer at TheAuthenticityProject@gmail.com

.

Part of Something Grander

The end draws near on this thing we called 2012, and as the final parties ensue, the toasts are made and yet another round of resolutions will be uttered; there is always something that pulls at us to reflect.

I am learning that reflection is often the tool our heart uses to speak into being the boldness we need to hear; however, too often we silence those thoughts in our endless pursuit of the new that lies ahead.

But what are we silencing?

Do we silence the moments of beauty that could open our heart wider than we thought possible? Are we silencing the moments when clarity finally reveals just a bit more of the picture? Have we quieted the moment when, even if it was only brief, we let courage take the driver’s seat? Have we silenced the moments when our heart was most raw, splintered, hell, even completely shattered? Have we ultimately silenced our own potential because we were too afraid to examine what we could do to change the story?

Now don't get me wrong, you can't drive forward very well if you only look in the rearview mirror, but reflection can be an incredible catalyst. Looking back with the right view point we see that we have a role to play, and the story is not finished.

I took in Spielberg's new film tonight, Lincoln, and as I watched the film, I remembered an exhibit I once saw containing some personal possessions of President Lincoln. The one item that stood out to me the most from that exhibit was this mirror from his personal dressing table. At that point in my life there were so many heavy things on my heart and as I stood there gazing into the mirror, it struck me how we both had stared into this same reflective glass with heavy hearts. He must have wondered how in the world things would ever work out or maybe if he was truly the right person for the job. He was trying to do the impossible, and yet each day he had to keep giving it another try. He had to, there was no time to look back and count regrets, for I believe he knew something that we seldom see in ourselves nowadays. He saw that he was a part of something much grander than he could physically touch or see, but none the less he knew he played a crucial role.

I can look in that same mirror, and although I do not have a civil war to solve, or a union to preserve, I believe the essential question is the same. What are you willing to be a part of?

Why does it escape our perceptions that we are individual strands of something much more grand and beautiful? Are we fearful it is true? Are we waiting to insert our creativity and love until we can see the larger tapestry? We are the only ones that possess our unique strand and without out it, the tapestry will never be complete.  

We often feel so alone and the weight of our individual journeys can be overwhelming, and as a result, reflecting can be equally weighty. We do not always like where we have previously traveled, and we would simply rather look forward, but we do so with great caution instead of grand resolve to engage with courage.

Reflecting back on the year, I have realized that in the middle of some profound hardships and loss, I have found that I am not alone, never was. Thousands before me have walked many of the steps I have faced this year, and there will be many more long after I am gone. Sometimes what matters is that we were a part of something much grander, the story of humanity.

So as this year winds down, take time to reflect, but instead of recounting all the things that did not go as planned or were not achieved, try gazing into the mirror and looking back at all the beautiful things you had the honor of being a part of. Where was your life woven into the journey of others? What were you a part of this year that will never again be woven in the exact same intricate way?

…and what will you be a part of this next year?

We have only this one strand to insert, why not weave it in with intention instead of with regret and fear. When Lincoln took his last breath, Secretary of War, Edwin Stanton lamented, “Now he belongs to the ages.” Lincoln does so not because he had some special power we lack, Lincoln simply made the daily choice to be a part of this grand tapestry. So, how about you? 

Take a little time for some reflection, and take stock in all that you were lucky enough to be a part of this year. And as for next year, we are behind you 100%, keep us posted along the journey…

Heidi Rickard is the Creative Director for The Authenticity Project, you can contact Heidi at TheAuthenticityProject@gmail.com

Rememories to See

Tilt your eyes to the light and you might

Switch your view with a click of the stick

Click the ticket that gave you something new

Pictures of where the things are, there

Slides of reality filtered in the monocular vision

Eyes divided and a mind united

Take something of division and solve its sum

Or perhaps some of its color when you uncover

The truth locked in the far light.

Tramp down the hall and scratch on the wall

And look at the memories framed

In gloss that’s shined and past

Life so defined and begged to last

When the lights explode and smile swallowed

When the trapped teeth and lip script

Stuck in a cellophane reality that can

Bleed the chemical bath of life

To reveal the pain that is melted behind

The mat, on the ground where you

Cover and wipe away your dirty path

Showing the state of bliss only true

To the people who know its not you

A mat to wipe, a frame to imprison

A moment too good to be the life you

Lust and learn is just a chemical burn.

Look in your cock pit or that place with cash

The black pit of change and mints

Find the picture or piece of the permanent

Ink that blots your thread

To the life instead that you choose to lead

Someone there for you to swear

Is vital to past participles

What you could have had,

Who made you bad,

Or what’s watered your sad

Small business cards of the blues,

Whites of the teeth not just on

Appointment cards we gamble with

But pocket pics of more than dicks,

It’s the people we glean

From the harvest of the world

To feed our sick stock from life’s clock

That ticks the stills we hold.

You use your thumb to trigger

The gun that fires shots of your past

Fresh time and place defined in the

Unforgiving sight of a sound that’s single,

Sided in an instant development,

Life illuminated from behind

The lines that defined who would win control

Of where the whole could suck you,

Into the fruitful fall or Sondheimist Springs

Places who remember your memoires

In banked flurries.

Rememories of litteries that are yet truition bound

We mold and slur our lives

Into the blurred lines of

Running beside the lens of now

Only to fool the eyes of tomorrow

How we pull the wool over the shutter

Of a cannon that destroys just as easily

As the film it uses to point fingers

And bullets shot can be the ammo we shoot

The unknown boot left with a helmet

Or the men struggling to hold

The American quilt that’s just

Blood, purity, and the blues swingin jazz

Of a way to remember the pain

Not capture its profiled acclaim.

Rememories are as fresh as the next step

You take to get beyond the gate

Of stalled perception and into the gear

That will grind you from the fear

That a glazed over glare

Requires you to stare down

Into the pit to prepare.

You who get the master view

People who stare at just what to do

Secrets of the viewfinder for the few

Who can look forward to what was

And back at what’s new.

Click, turn.

Click, turn.

*You spin my head right round, right round

Click, turn

Feel the technical burn of the images

Stilled on the paper map of the past

Shined with your perception

And recalled with human connection

To the intersection of what’s been

A map headed in a frozen direction.

Guest Contributor: Kody Maynard

Kody is the Program Coordinator for the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Allies Resource Office at the University of Northern Colorado

You can contact Kody at his office: 970-351-2906 or www.unco.edu/glbta

December Gift Guide 2012 [Part 5]

So my gift list may be a little different...I preface my thoughts, because with the words “gift list” we are trained to begin evaluating where we too might acquire said items. But what if, before we spent another season standing in lines spending more than we have or should, we re-thought the word “gift”?

I will turn 40 Christmas Eve, and this year, gifts have lost a bit of the luster. Shopping, wrapping, and the brief moments of expectation as ribbons unfurl are failing to bring that special glimmer to my heart.

Perhaps it is because I have been on a two year quest, bit by bit, to change the way I live, or maybe it is due to the fact that in giving up part of my job to follow my heart my financial priorities shifted. Perhaps it is one too many stories of cranky people with anything but the Christmas spirit, but the real answer lies in the fact that, for me, the word gift has been redefined this year.

What do we really need? DO we actually think about that, or do we just throw another gift in the cart on the way out of the store?

This past year, there has been one too many shifts in the journey for me, and for many of the people I love, and I just can’t go back to gift giving as usual. So, let’s forego the boxes and ribbons and give a gift that might just change lives.

Gift #1 -Have an honest conversation with yourself.

Cost: Depends on how honest you are willing to be and who you select for this time of sharing.

You are thinking, “Wait, I start with myself?” Well, I told you this was going to be different. So I ask you, when was the last time you had a conversation of this sort? Sounds like a simple gift, but don’t leave out the words “honest and real”. With this gift, if we are truly willing to remove all the barriers and fear, bold change will finally have room to emerge. Maybe this conversation is something you know needs to happen, but hesitation has always gotten the upper hand. Maybe you are afraid of what will happen if you really spoke the words on your heart, but what we forget is that the regret that comes from NOT speaking your heart will have a much higher price in the long run.

[Photo Credit]

Gift #2 - Time to Journal

Cost: a few sheets of paper and a little quiet time

Yup, we are still on you. In the midst of numerous responsibilities and distractions, we have forgotten the power of taking time to reflect. So how about grabbing a journal, spiral notebook, or the back of some wrapping paper and start a new habit. Pour out those thoughts, doodle, draw or make a 100 different lists, but get the thoughts out. As a society, our heart’s thoughts are suffering from constipation in the worst way. We seldom really share, and in this digital age, those thoughts often get sent out in a quick tweet rather than something we can go back and reflect on, even learn from. Give yourself this gift for just a week and see what happens. Just make sure you can go back and read what you have poured out, because for me, this is the most powerful part of journaling.

Gift #3 - Add to your idea of “Family”

Cost: Time and willingness to connect

Ok, time to not only rethink the word gift, but also the word family. We can sometimes become so focused on what is not working in our life we fail to recognize the people all around us who have incredible wisdom and compassion just waiting to be opened up for us to garner the good. I believe that we all want to be cared for, and yet we let so few people into our life. We somehow decide that it is better to keep up as many false appearances as we can rather than just letting others hear the truth and become “family”. Rethink who might be an excellent family member, and then let the walls down and start some “family” traditions and extend that circle of care in your world and theirs! You just might be the type of family member they need the most right now. Try writing someone a letter this season and let them know how much you appreciate the “family” relationship you have, and then make a list of who might need you on the same level. Let’s grow that community table.

[Photo Credit]

Gift # 4 Learn Someone Else’s Journey.

Cost: time and a willingness to really listen.

There are so many ways to carry out this gift, and talk about change; you may never reach the bottom of the possible that comes with this idea. So what do I mean by learn? The challenge here is first being willing to put down the judgment and preconceived notions and let your heart be the guide in this listening task. Find someone who has a story that you know is going to be very different from yours, not that those similar stories are not powerful, but this time let’s shake it up a bit. Is there someone you know who has walked an incredible journey but you just have never taken the time to really ask about those moments of change, or perhaps there is an elderly person who often sits quiet and yet just below the surface is a great wealth of stories laying silent. Or how about jump on the world wide web and pick a topic you have always wondered about and find stories of people walking that path. If you find a couple inspiring stories, type up the link or print out the story and you have a great little gift. Challenge yourself out of your comfort zone, and watch your heart start to grow.

Here are some ideas to get you started:

1. On YouTube, type in: Caroline Casey: Looking Past Limits.
2. Visit SnagFilms The Last Survivor and view of this amazing film about four genocide survivors.
3. Dog lover? Watch this!
4. Ever heard of Battens Disease?

[Photo Credit]

Gift #5 Save the Life of a Family

Cost: A little learning and a few emails

As people open presents in living rooms all over the world Christmas mornings, there are families in many places that are simply wishing for safety. One such family lives is Kenya, and due to the current genocide taking place in Central Africa against the Banyamulenge Tutsi, they are in desperate need of our help. Visit the link on our website at www.theauthenticityproject.org and click on the tab “Save Justin’s Family” and you could give the gift of life for this family. Learn more, and if you would like to talk to Justin, visit the page for his email, for he would love to hear from you! Write letters or email and you could be the change that is needed. No mall lines here and you have the chance to give a gift that will make your heart soar!

[Photo: Heidi & Justin]

In the end, this season will come and go, and we will soon be on to the next holiday, but what if you left this one a little different. In the past year, dealing with loss of all kinds, I have found that the first gift we must give is to ourselves. Take time for you, and then do that for others. Those are the gifts I feel we need more of right now, and they are the same gifts that can alter our future. So off with the ribbons and miles of paper, try putting a little less in boxes this year, and do more out of the box. Thank you for being a part of our little world here, and don’t’ forget we are behind you 100% in this journey to authenticity. We send love!

**No one has asked us to feature any products/pictures - these are simply things we love and want to share!

Heidi Rickard is the Creative Director for The Authenticity Project, you can contact Heidi at TheAuthenticityProject@gmail.com

Check out December Gift Guide 2012 Part 1 , Part 2 , Part 3 and Part 4 in case you missed them!

December Gift Guide 2012 [Part 4]

When thinking about what to put in a “gift guide” I never know exactly how to go about it. Do I put things that I think I would like to receive from people? Should it be things that I expect others would like? Or should I focus on things that most people do not already know about? Well, instead of giving myself a headache, I will just do my best to incorporate all those thought processes together into a hopefully comprehensive list!

1.      BEL13VERS Foundation: You do not need to be a hockey fan to appreciate Jack Jablonski’s story. You do not even need to be a fan of sports, however it may hit home stronger for those who are. When I was introduced to Jack’s story about a year ago I visited the site and watched a video that inspired me instantly to buy a t-shirt and donate towards the Foundation. There is a unique feeling in helping out a family that you have never met and probably never will meet.

2.      Make Your Presence be the Present: You know that crazy neighbor who you try to actively avoid day in and day out? Well try accepting the invitation they gave you to their Holiday party. Even if you are dropping in for only a few minutes, your presence can mean more to someone than any product you could buy at Best Buy.

3.      A Barnyard?! When you meet someone who you are planning on buying a gift for during the holidays and they tell you that they want a cow or a goat for a family in a 3rd world country, it really makes you understand that the things you were hoping for this year may be pretty small in comparison. Purchasing an animal to give to a family which will then give the offspring of that animal to another family. Thus, making it the gift that keeps on giving. Heifer International & World Vision are two organizations that offer families the gift of livestock!

4.      A Trip Down Memory Lane: I think anyone can appreciate getting a homemade gift for the holidays. Seeing that someone you care about put time in his or her busy schedule to sit down and craft something for you has a way of making you feel all warm and fuzzy on the inside. If you are thinking about crafting something this year, think about making it something that has special meaning between the two of you. Maybe it is an inside joke or something that the two of you experienced together years ago that still sticks with you. Receiving something homemade can feel good, but receiving something homemade that was made specifically with you and only you in mind can feel even better. [Photo Credit]

5.      Donors Choose: If you feel like making a donation for the holidays, Donors Choose is something that may be of interest to you. There are teachers all over the country that do not have the ability to let their students live up to their potential. With Donors Choose you can pick a category, for example: Math. You then can look at the stories by art teachers and donate a few bucks here and there for supplies to help them get a project off the ground. You can really feel like you are a part of the children’s work and be blessed with receiving pictures and updates from the children as they pursue the project.

**No one has asked us to feature any products - these are simply things we love and want to share!

Ben Heydt is the Media Director for The Authenticity Project, you can contact Ben at TheAuthenticityProject@gmail.com

Check out December Gift Guide 2012 Part 1 , Part 2 and Part 3 in case you missed it!

Justin Semahoro Kiminyerwa

Join us for the next half hour for a conversation with our personal hero, and genocide survivor, Justin Semahoro Kiminyerwa, and learn how you can help make a difference for those facing genocide.

December Gift Guide 2012 [Part 3]

“Be the Change You Wish to See” Gift Giving Guide [Part 3]

The holidays are an amazing time to really think about ways to bless other people and have fun while doing it! So, let’s go out and bless everyone we can with the goal to “be the change we wish to see!" --Gandhi

1.       Shop Fair Trade- As our world becomes filled with more things, there is a humongous gap between those who buy the things and how the things we buy are made, where they come from, and the story behind all involved in the process of getting those things into our stores. As large corporations become more powerful, many times the workers and the poorest people get stuck in a cycle of exploitation and poverty.  Many are forced to work in horrible unsafe conditions, long working hours (usually around 18-20 hours per day), and unfair wages.  Fair trade organizations work hand-in-hand with the people around the world insuring that all are being treated with dignity, fairness, and carving their way out of poverty. When we choose to buy fair trade we are voting for the type of business practices and working conditions we support. Check out the two wonderful organizations below:

Yobel Market- www.yobelmarket.com  Yobel works directly with artisans all over the world to ensure fair working conditions and wages. You can get a beautiful ornament from Rwanda,  jewelry from Peru, blankets from India, super stylish clothes from Uganda, stellar leather bags from Kenya, beautiful bags from Thailand, and even wine bottle holders from Costa Rica!  Also, if you live in Colorado, you should check out their store in-person located in Colorado Springs!

Light Gives Heat (LGH)- www.lightgivesheat.org  This is an amazing organization that provides jobs and opportunities for women and men throughout the regions of war-torn Uganda. These jobs allow the Ugandan women and men to be able to provide for their families with dignity and hope for a better future. The SUBBI (meaning Hope) women and the EPOH (Hope backwards) men and women create beautiful jewelry, bags, clothing, and many other awesome things that would be the perfect gift for any person in your life. Most of the women and men are survivors of the Ugandan civil wars and most have lost loved ones and suffered much. By buying one of their products we are helping these families to experience a better life. Check out their website and while you are at it, check out their full-length film, Moving On! This film tells the amazing story of finding beauty in risk and the inspiring stories of the Ugandan people that are LGH.

2.       Kiva- www.kiva.org  Kiva is a microfinance organization that gives people without access to traditional banking systems opportunities to start their own small business or expand their current business. This is done by providing small loans to people through microfinance institutions located on five continents. Kiva connects people who can lend money (like you and me) to the people who really need safe, affordable access to capital in order to create better lives for themselves and their families. One hundred percent of your loan is sent to these microfinance institutions, which are called Field Partners, who administer the loans in the field. All the loans you make are of course paid back to you in full. Kiva has wonderful gift cards that you can give to people that allow whoever receives the gift card to choose the borrowers to support. When their loans are repaid, they can use those funds again and again to make even more loans on Kiva. It's truly the gift that keeps on giving!

3.       Shared experiences-  Just as Erik pointed out in Part 2, time is a precious gift that we can give to each other amidst our busy world. There are so many wonderful activities that you can do with your loved ones. Last year, I bought two tickets for a painting and wine night at a place called Splash for my mother-in-law and myself. We had a great time together! Also last year, my husband bought two concert tickets for him and his brother to go see his brother’s favorite band. As we all know, creating memories is definitely more important than just giving things. What’s even better is you get to share those experiences with whoever you give them to. Just think creatively about what the other person would really enjoy and go have fun!

4.       Handmade gifts locally made- I love finding unique gifts that are handmade and highlight the person’s creativity and skills. There are so many people out there who make a living out of making things that are way cooler than anything you could find at your local Target. Etsy is a great website that allows creators to sell their creations directly online and Etsy has a huge variety of wonderful things: www.etsy.com. Also, look out for local handmade craft fairs in your area and support those around you!!

5.       Make the gift!- You would be so surprised and impressed with yourself if you knew how many amazing things you can come up with and create yourself! It just takes some foresight, a little creativity, and time. Handmade gifts are usually much more thoughtful and special than store bought gifts. With all the amazing websites dedicated to DIY (do it yourself), you are sure to find a great project to make for everyone in your family! Some things I have made in the past to give as gifts were crocheted hats, a collage of pictures in a frame, some small acrylic paintings, and some cards. Right now, I’m working on making carved leather coasters with the Colorado Flag. (Yes, we all love Colorado!!)

**No one has asked us to feature any products - these are simply things we love and want to share!

Stephanie Zeller is the Community Director for The Authenticity Project, you can contact Stephanie at TheAuthenticityProject@gmail.com

Check out December Gift Guide 2012 Part 1  and Part 2 in case you missed it!

December Gift Guide 2012 [Part 2]

Today's gift guide is brought to you by The Authenticity Project's Program Director: Erik. 

First off, let me just say that I am the worst when it comes to giving gifts: birthdays, anniversaries, and Christmas all find me at the local 24-hour supermarket or corner convenience store around 3 in the morning hunting every isle for some type of relevant symbol of love or appreciation that I can find. So for me, compiling a list of gifts is like asking a water buffalo to paint an accurate representation of Frans Hals’ The Laughing Caviler. However, in recent years I have learned to embrace not only my gift-giving deficiency, but also use people's lack of expectations to work for me by coming up with some creative ideas for gifts.

And I’d like to share five of those with you today...

1. Dinner Invitations: I’ll start off with this one because it’s one of my favorites, and it goes into my new gift giving ethos which is: the best gift you can give is TIME. Most people that we care enough to actually give a gift too are usually people we enjoy spending time with, and most of us live such busy and calendar packed lives that actually giving someone the gift of a couple hours of “free-time” is much appreciated and more meaningful than another closet-bound scarf. Combine the gift of time with a free home-cooked meal and you can't lose. Just make sure you follow-up on this one and set a date ASAP so it doesn't fall through the cracks.

2. Personalized Art: Turn off the TV, rip the iPad out of your kid's hands and replace it with some crayons, Paints, markers etc…tell them who they are making the art for and to make it personal. Now head to the craft store, slap it in a frame, wrap it up and BAM! You've got a tear-jerking grandparent gift that actually means something and becomes a priceless work of art.

3.    Three Avocados Coffee: I am a huge fan of coffee, I say "fan" because it sounds better than addict. I drink coffee all day and I have become a bit of a coffee snob and so when a friend turned me on to Three Avocados, a Non-Profit coffee company that uses 100% of there proceeds to provide clean water and support educational efforts in Uganda, I was sold. And it turned out that their coffee is absolutely WONDERFUL! So for that coffee “fan” on your Christmas list, get them a couple bags of Uganda Bugisu coffee ($11.99 a 12oz bag) or... you can even get them a subscription ($13.94 per month) so they can drink it all year long. http://www.threeavocados.org

4.    INKAcases: We do love our tech toys and after dishing out hundreds of dollars on the latest laptop or tablet our next step is buying something to protect it. Well, the folks at Andean Alliance for Sustainable Development have got just the thing. Made by local artisans in Peru these cases are handmade to keep your iPad or Laptop safe and sound. And by purchasing one ($35-40.00) you help support community-led development in the highlands of Peru. Don’t tell, but my Mother-in-Law is getting one of these for Christmas this year. http://alianzaandina.bigcartel.com

5.    Handwritten Letters: We live in a great age, a time in history where communication is instantaneous. We can update our Facebook page and let everyone we've ever met know what we had for lunch and where we had it, we can text, email, and call someone from our smart phones anywhere anytime. But, there's just something about going to the mailbox expecting nothing more than a pile of bills and furniture store flyers and seeing an envelope with your name HANDWRITTEN on it! This Christmas consider writing some folks a letter once a month, not a typed and formatted form letter, but an honest-to-goodness handwritten letter sharing your thoughts on life and love. Maybe consider picking up some handmade stationary from Dolma Fair Trade. http://www.dolmafairtrade.com 

**No one has asked us to feature any products - these are simply things we love and want to share!

Erik Ewing is the Program Director for The Authenticity Project, you can contact Erik at TheAuthenticityProject@gmail.com

Check out December Gift Guide 2012 Part 1 in case you missed it!