in philly?...Rosa's Fresh Pizza!

A simple, friendly, loving gesture = how we might save ourselves, and the planet.

Mason Wartman, spent three years on Wall Street...then he left to open Rosa's Fresh Pizza in Philadelphia.

Rosa's serves hot, cheesy, yummy slices of pie to their regulars...those with homes, and those without.

Not like any other pizza shop, colorful Post-its cover the walls and each note represents a free slice of pizza, paid for by other customers.

Homeless can come into Rosa's and exchange one of the Post-its for a free slice.

So far, Rosa’s has given away 9,000 slices.

Wartman says he didn’t come up with helping the homeless, rather he just wanted to provide a place to grab a $1 slice, like you could in New York. It was his customers who came up with paying it forward...one dollar and slice at a time.

Rosa’s serves about 40 homeless customers every day and each patron is recognized like any other paying customer.

Wartman says he named his restaurant after his mother, Rose..."I think she's proud.”

Daily, directly, openly, gently helping one another...this is the world in which we all want to live in.

This business model truly knocks my socks off! Well, well done Mason!

Absolutely Smitten.

home spun fair trade - Oimei

This is a truly gorgeous pillow! Made of homespun cloth, decorated with traditional Akha embroidery, created by hill tribe artisans in the North of Thailand...which would be a lovely gift for friend, or self!

After traveling to Bangkok in 2010 to study, Aimi Duong found her trip growing from four months to sixteen. She traveled through Thailand, and most of Southeast Asia, where she witnessed poverty firsthand. She met some amazing, hardworking, tenacious women...struggling to live dignified lives. Deeply inspired, Aimi decided to start her own social enterprise.

Oimei was founded in 2012 with the mission to sell fair trade pillows and home decor. Supporting rural artisans by providing them access to new markets gives them the opportunity to be self-sustainable and empowers these women to rise above poverty.

Oi Mei is Aimi's name in Chinese and means “love beauty.” The name was given to Aimi by her eldest sister who passed away in 2009.

Oi Mei was created as a lasting celebration of my sister’s life and serves as a constant reminder to embrace all the beauty around us.

Smitten with Aimi and Oimei.

fragrant integrity - The 7 Virtues

So I am a little late to this party...but currently completely mad for Canadian Company, The 7 Virtues. Make Perfume Not War is their mission...creating perfumes using raw materials sourced from communities in Afghanistan and other war-torn areas, including Haiti, Rwanda and the Middle East, that are working to rebuild themselves.

Creator and CEO Barb Stegemann wanted to offer farmers in Afghanistan a financially viable alternative to growing illegal poppy crops, that create hazards both in their communities and our own.

So, The 7 Virtues sources all essential oils from their supplier/farmers in Afghanistan, who then are able to provide seasonal employment for their tribes and communities, to create Afghanistan Orange Blossom and Noble Rose of Afghanistan.

As the company has grown, they have found suppliers in Haiti (where the Vetiver oil is considered the best in the world) to create Vetiver of Haiti.

Patchouli of Rwanda combines soothing green hibiscus, red grapefruit, cedar flower and freesia notes to compliment the earthy patchouli harvested by adult orphans and widows of the genocide.

The Middle East Peace fragrance, which blends the sweetie grapefruit essential oil from the Sharon Region of Israel with lime & basil essential oils from the Fars Province of Iran, was inspired by the wildly successful "We Love You Iran/Israel" campaign.

All fragrances are vegan, phthalate and paraben free.

Brilliantly Smitten.

inspired neckwear - The Able Scarf

It is a rare occasion that I am not wearing a scarf...and I don't discriminate seasons either. From the grocery store to the gym, to frigid movie theaters and drafty flights, I love them! And now, this stunning white, 100% handwoven Ethiopian cotton, emblazoned with jet black screen printing, designed by Erin Loechner of designformankind.com...perfect!

In 2005, Barrett Ward founded the revolutionary themochaclub.org. The idea was to give up the price of just 2-3 mocha lattes a month and forge change in Africa - using that money to create relief and development projects.

In just a few years later, Barrett moved to Ethiopia for a year. There, he met a group of activists called Women at Risk, who work with women exploited in the sex industry. After witnessing the success Women at Risk was having, Barrett came to understand that one of the biggest variables in keeping these women off the streets was generative employment.

With this, fashionABLE was born. Women sharing what they are ABLE to do when provided an opportunity.

This scarf has that bold statement written all over it!

Smitten!!

succulent and sustaining recipes - Share: The Cookbook that Celebrates Our Common Humanity

This dazzlingly illustrated cookbook has been a stellar gift for all my foodie, gourmet chef girlfriends since May 2013. I don't cook...but I may now that I too have been given one of these beautiful books for my very own kitchen.

Share: The Cookbook that Celebrates Our Common Humanity is chock full of over 100 enticing, delectable recipes to try, with contributions from top chefs and movie celebs.

Break bread and be jubilant with Congolese Corn Fritters and Pineapple Salsa, Nigerian Beef and Okra Soup or Quorn and Pepper Tacos...then for dessert, Annie Lennox's porridge or Judi Dench's bread and butter pudding.

This is a book exploding with hope, goodwill and is a perfect way to help support and raise money for women affected by war in countries such as Rwanda, Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia and South Sudan.

The charity has enabled these women to learn skills, find employment, earn money, enjoy independence and gain self-respect. Some of their stories are told here, a stark reminder of just how fragile civilization can be.

All proceeds from the sales of the cookbook go to Women for Women International's micro-financing programs as well as their farming and food training initiatives.

Other contributions from Jaime Oliver, Alice Waters, Maggie Beer, Rene Redzepi, Emma Thompson, Meryl Streep, Sir Paul McCartney and Mia Farrow are besprinkled with inspiring stories from the women whose lives have been changed through Women for Women International.

upcycled baubles - 31 Bits

This vibrant, beautiful, multihued adornment is made out of paper. Yes...paper! Each and every bead is created using hand rolled paper. All jewelry at 31 Bits is hand crafted by women artisans living in Uganda.

31 Bits began five years ago, when 5 college friends, Kallie Dovel, Alli Swanson, Anna Toy, Brooke Hodges, and Jessie Simonson, with graduation just a year away, found their lives changing drastically.

Kallie, had just returned from a trip to Uganda where she met and spent time with women that had grown up in war and had nothing. They were single moms with no education and no job prospects. What struck Kallie the most, the women were her age. The contrast of the lives the women were leading was stark.

Kallie witnessed, that though the women had not had the opportunity of an education, they made up for that with amazing artistry and ingenuity - making unique, beauteous jewelry out of old posters.   

Miss Dovel brought a box of the jewelry back with her, when the rest of the friends fell in love with it, they all knew a business was emerging.

A few of the girls went back the following summer and spent time with the women making jewelry and sharing life stories. Kallie stayed through the following year, setting up the organization.

Fantastic!

31 Bits has also implemented a five-year holistic development program in Uganda, where each woman receives health education, finance training, counseling, and business training. They currently have 120 women in the program whose lives have been transformed.

100% Smitten.

Through your purchase, you are helping to empower women rise above poverty with dignity and grace.

imagine peace - cuff by Yoko Ono for Maiden Nation

This delectable cuff, designed by the prodigiously talented Yoko Ono, is imbued with her late husband John Lennon's stirring message "Imagine Peace." The cut out architecture applies the Japanese tradition of using negative space in a positive way.

This beautiful cuff of bold communique' was made exclusively for Maiden Nation and is available in matte black steel and 14K gold-plated steel.

Maiden Nation is an online marketplace committed to empowering women through ethical fashion and was founded in 2012 by artist Willa Shalit, brand developer Elizabeth Schaeffer Brown and social entrepreneur Juliana Um.

The company seeks to empower women by providing a platform for them to earn an income, either by selling their products directly to consumers or by partnering with a designer for charity.

The mission is “trade not aid, ” which enables the socially conscious company to curate and showcase unknown designers worldwide, thus giving these artisans exposure to a much larger audience.

All products are ethically sourced, and profits are reinvested into women’s entrepreneurship projects.

Yoko Ono’s “Imagine Peace” bracelet goes to the Rainbow House in Japan, an organization to help victims of the 2011 tsunami.

Crazy Smitten with Maiden Nation.

Crazy Smitten for Yoko Ono!

super supple galoshes - Roma Boots

When it comes to rain boots...supple, chic Roma Boots are THE way to go. These rubber beauties are not only resilient to inclement weather, but are playful, colorful and wonderfully mod. Offering an array of styles and hues to choose from, Roma boots are cornering the market!

Roma Boots were conceived by Romanian born Samuel Bistrian, who grew up in the remote village of Benesti, and had experienced poverty firsthand in the still communist ruled country. Though having moved to the states when he was 8, he returned to Romania in 2001, and though communism no longer remained, poverty did. He witnessed children in the streets lacking proper shoes, or no footwear at all.

After college, Bistrian took a job with Neiman Marcus and in 2009 met Blake Mycoskie, founder of TOMS Shoes. Bistrian was truly inspired by his story, and a year later Samuel decided to take his experience in retail fashion and meld it with his altruistic efforts - with the help of family and friends, Roma Boots was born. 

With a mission to help eradicate poverty, Roma aspires to directly serve street children and orphans. Working  on a "buy one, give one" model: for every pair of boots sold, a new pair are donated to a child in need. In addition to the protective galoshes, the boots are filled to the brim with educational supplies. Fantastic!

Expanding the effort: 10% of all sales go to the Roma For All Foundation, created with an aim to help educate these children to break the cycle of poverty. 

Smitten!

elegant, ethical - Raven + Lily Silver Lake Candle

My shopping list always seem to include: that perfectly well worn pair of jeans…and a terrific smelling candle. Well, leave it to Raven + Lily to help me with the latter. Their Sliver Lake Candle is freshly scented, elegant...and ethical.

[The brilliant company Raven and Lily, was conceived by close friends Kirsten Dickerson and Sophia Lin who both share a love of fashion and ethical design. The socially conscious organization was created as a platform to help alleviate poverty among women and is committed to offering products that are made by hand and follow fair trade standards.]

Stunningly designed, the Silver Lake Candle is a hand-poured, soy wax candle, infused with the lush scents of mango and grapefruit, and beautifully encased in glass with a gold leaf foil bottom.

Created in Los Angeles, California by women who are transitioning out of homelessness. This employment opportunity allows for these talented, dedicated women to continue on their paths to autonomy.

Currently Raven and Lily helps to employ marginalized women in India, Ethiopia, Kenya, Cambodia, Pakistan, and the USA at fair trade wages, thus giving them access to safe jobs, sustainable incomes, health care, education…a chance to break the cycle of poverty for themselves and their families.

8 oz. candle stands 3” in diameter and 3.5” high

Totally Smitten.

kick a** socks - Conscious Step

These socks walk the walk they talk! Conscious Step helps “give an ordinary purchase an extraordinary purpose.”

Can socks change the world…why yes, they can! Conscious Step is surely going  to make a difference “one pair of socks at a time” – 50 percent of all profits go toward 3 partnering charities. Currently Conscious Step offers three exclusive sock designs, each reflective of the cause it supports:

One pair funds Action Against Hunger that provides three therapeutic food packages for malnourished children living in refugee camps in Kenya, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The second pair funds Trees for the Future, which plants 30 trees in rural Ghana and provides an education in agroforestry to women and children, giving them the ability to replenish degraded soils and generate sustainable sources of food and fuel.

The third pair funds Engineers Without Borders that sends Australian engineers to Nepal to build clean water sources in schools so that young girls can have the same education opportunities as boys.

The wonderful entrepreneurs behind Conscious Step are Dr. Hassan Ahmad and Adam Long from Sydney, and Prashant Mehta from New York City. All three, firm believers in “the more profitable you are, the greater your impact”…and “knowing that my sock drawer planted a forest in Ghana”, is more motivating than donating $5 to a charity and having no idea how it will be used or what difference it will make,” says Dr. Ahmad.

These socks are made from 200-needle count, organic, fair trade cotton and are sweat resistant. Each style is embroidered with it’s own unique distinguishable symbol…and did I say they kick a**!

Smitten with these socks.

great, good, amazing - GIVESCENT

I am a madwoman for fragrances. I change my “go to” every 3-4 months...and usually have an alternate for my "go to" on standby! One of my new favorite finds is GIVESCENT, created by acclaimed yoga teacher Elena Brower, founder of Virayoga in NYC. 

After spending time teaching in Italy, getting exhilarated by all that surrounded her, she discovered an almond oil blend that inspired her to create her own fragrance. She partnered with Alexandra Lyon Perelman and paired the almond scent with a summery citrus blend, thus creating the original signature scent. It is a deliciously provocative, inspiring essence. Love it!

They now have 3 singular fragrances (free of alcohol, formaldehyde, parabens, phthalates and sulfates...and cruelty free) to choose from:

Signature - a captivating blend of sun-ripened citrus and spicy vanilla 

Green - an invigorating blend of bergamot, lemon and mint 

Orange - a sensuous blend of bergamot, grapefruit and musk 

Here’s what I love most: 

From the purchase of each bottle of GIVESCENT orange, $2 will be given to benefit Every Mother Counts. And 5% of all proceeds from GIVESCENT signature and GIVESCENT green will go toward benefitting Women for Women International. Don't you just love that!  

Smell great. Do good. Feel amazing! 

Am Smitten.

philanthropic pencil packs - KITE

Since Halloween is around the corner, I can’t help but think of the year my mother began to hand out pencils instead of candy to the little monsters ringing our big brass doorbell. I remember being slightly embarrassed initially, but came around to understanding her choice...and thinking it was very cool.

I’m not suggesting my above anecdote this Halloween, however...I do love the idea of KITE pencil packs for stocking stuffers and secret Santa exchanges in December. It would also be a great gift from teacher to student...providing a perfect opportunity to teach about giving back and philanthropy.

KITE (Kids Inspiring Tomorrow's Education) is a school supply company that gives back based on a "one-for-one" model. For every pencil pack purchased, KITE provides one to a child in need. Hard to believe, 13 million kids in the US don’t have access to basic school supplies, with millions more children around the world facing the same issue.  

KITE is starting with pencils but hopes to develop a full line of school supplies, and help make the image of an education a reality for children around the world.  They give both domestically and internationally and partner with organizations and schools on the ground to distribute supplies.  

Totally Smitten.

upcycling elephant poo for holiday cards! - Holstee

Are you looking for a holiday card that is both planet conscious and charitable? Well, I was too! I am a huge fan of all things letterpress, and I love communique the old fashioned way... the US postal service. Thus, while looking for an enchanting, simple, well designed card to mail out for the upcoming holidays, I was more than pleased to stumble upon Holstee.com.

Their choice of printing paper: 50% elephant poo and 50% recycled paper. Yes! The paper is handmade, acid free and 100% natural.

Delightful designs, letterpress printed in silver, blue and gold inks on white cotton paper. Each set comes with six 5"x7" cards and six envelopes. The cards are blank, giving you the opportunity to pen your own singular, spectacular greeting. 

 Holstee offers an array of cards, posters and other colorful, uncommon gift items.

A portion of all proceeds go towards funding Kiva microloans.

Smitten with Holstee.

100 beads at a time - 100 Good Deeds

In the world of charming, fashionably conscious jewelry, the 100 Good Deeds bracelet is at the top my list. Engaging colors, beautiful, hip...and glamorous! 

In 2000, artist and activist Mary Fisher, was asked by the White House AIDS office to act as a Special Representative of the UN and travel to Africa. While there, Mary worked with those affected by poverty, violence and the stigma attached to HIV. 

Mary started the Abataka foundation to partner with these women by designing jewelry that they could make and thereby earn a positive, sustainable living. 

In 2012, Mary released her memoir Messenger, and also met filmmaker Thomas Morgan. He shared with Mary a game that he and his family created, where they would complete 100 good deeds anonymously. 

Mary was Smitten and responded by designing the 100 Good Deeds bracelet. Each bracelet is hand-braided with one hundred glass beads and a single rubber ring. After wrapping it around your wrist, each time you do a good deed, you move the rubber ring one bead closer to the 1GD charm.

"The motivation behind the 100 Good Deeds collection is to inspire simple acts of kindness around the world." ~ Mary Fisher 

The bracelet serves as a reminder to pay it forward, and has found ambassadors in celebrities like Susan Sarandon, Katie Holmes and Naomi Watts.

Smitten!

breathe, love, dream - The Giving Keys

It was late in the month November 2013. I had waited until the last minute (surprise!) to get my husband a 4th year anniversary gift. This was actually not so much about my procrastination issues, more the lack of inspiration for a unique, meaningful gift.

I don’t go for all the traditional elemental gifts: paper, brass, china...all that. I just wanted to get him something that had significance and expressed love.

As it was the eleventh hour, I had very little time before dinner reservations at 8:30. I landed at a tried and true, happening boutique off of Melrose that I frequent for gifts. I scanned the men’s section with keen eyes and landed on a case filled with colorful, sporty, rubber watches. They didn’t necessarily scream “significant”...but they were hip, manly and fun.

Out of the corner of my eye to my left, I spied some dangly well-worn chains swinging. At the bottom of each chain was an intriguing tattered key with an imprinted word on the front: HOPE, FAITH, FEARLESS, COURAGE, LOVE. I was instantly attracted. The placard on the wooden display read:

The Giving Keys

"When you get this key, you must give it away at some point to a person you feel needs the message on there. Then write us the story of why you gave it away."

The chains with keys were delicious looking, I loved the instructions, but the last sentence on the mission statement knocked me out:

We employ those who are looking to transition out of homelessness.

The Giving Keys was founded by Caitlin Crosby (an actress and singer/songwriter,) when she began wearing a NY hotel room key around her neck as decor. She had the idea of engraving old keys with inspirational words. She felt we were all like these keys...unique, scarred, flawed, and at risk of being discarded.

The idea was for the keys to be repurposed over and over. The message on the key is yours until it has served you, then you pay it forward to inspire someone else.

The charitable dimension came to be after Caitlin met Rob and Cera sitting under an umbrella on Hollywood Boulevard with a sign that read: Ugly, Broke & Hungry. Over dinner, Caitlin discovered that Cera made jewelry. Both Rob and Cera joined the team and started making Giving Keys the next day.

Later, the business partnered with the United Way and PATH (a reputable transitional home in Los Angeles,) to help to find workers to employ and help build The Giving Keys team. 

Since the beginning, The Giving Keys has employed 19 people experiencing homelessness, helping to provide opportunities for the team members to move into permanent housing.

The 'Pay It Forward' blog is really terrific!

So I found the one that was imprinted with LOVE. There were a few ancillary gifts that evening...the chain with the aged key was the one that made the impression I was hoping for. 

I’m Smitten with The Giving Keys. 

They are carried in over 500 stores in the US and internationally. Anthropologie, Fred Segal, Henri Bendel and Kitson to name a few local to Los Angeles.