It’s that time of year again! The radio stations are often the first to notice, and the stores are a close second, the Christmas countdown has begun. If you are anything like me the thought of Christmas shopping is almost enough to stomp out the joy of the season altogether. As a means of survival, (for me as well as the other shoppers I could come in contact with) over the years, I have devised a system of shopping that is not only effective, but genuinely enjoyable as well.
I believe that it is important to keep the spirit of giving constantly at the forefront of our minds during the Christmas shopping process. I have found that in giving what I have termed ‘multitasking gifts’ this becomes easy. By purchasing handmade gifts for a cause four objectives are achieved within the same transaction: a loved one receives a thoughtful gift, the chosen charity feels monetary support, and the artist is perhaps able to buy a gift for their own family member! This technique has also been shown to improve quality of sleep, and even in some cases cure seasonal insomnia (“I have too much to do! No time for sleep!”)
You can employ this system and serenity concurrently from the comfort of your own home. I recommend hot chocolate, or hot tea with milk and honey, preferably a fire in the fireplace and a laptop, cozy couch and warm blanket optional as they coincide with the laptop. If Christmas music doesn’t appeal to you George Winston is an appropriate substitute for mood music. After the scene is set, and hopefully it is snowing outside, check out these links and start crossing names off your gift list.   
The www.projectzambi.org/ website brought to you by the good people at Hasbro, benefits the orphaned children in Africa. The Zambi baby elephant toy (which my youngest has and loves!) is absolutely adorable. It features realistic sound and movement. The children helped with the designs on the ears, and the bracelet given with each purchase.  
For the person that insists that they don't want anything for Christmas I recommend  Changingthepresent.org/  . They won’t get anything, but at the same time they will get something they can’t refuse. Changingthepresent.org has gifts and pledges that start at $1.00 (toasty tootsies provides socks for homeless children and adults) and go up to $500.00. For $50.00 you can help preserve our ecosystems by supporting our small scale farms.            
The www.seton.net website is unique in that 100% of the proceeds go toward the cause. All items are handmade, unique, functional, and donated. Proceeds go toward the creation of a tranquility garden to benefit the University Medical Center Brackenridge.  
Another site I recommend is giftsthatgive.com. What I like about this site is that there are over 100 upscale products that many people would select from a department store. What differentiates these purchases however is that 20% of the proceeds go toward the research and treatment of Leukemia. 
I have had a good deal of success in past years with the above sites; everyone receives a gift that blesses beyond them, and I have felt good about American made products and my own charitable contribution. This year however I am proud to introduce to you a new site that I have found:   
The website www.artfulvision.com features over 100 artists, and every medium imaginable; this site has something for everyone. There are countless original gifts priced for any budget. To me however, the best part is that you get to select the charity that you want to receive 20% of the purchase price for your selection, allowing the gift to be personal in two ways. In addition to that I had the privilege of speaking with Maxine Gardner, the artist and visionary that founded  http://www.artfulvision.com  and she furthered my interest in this project. She confirmed for me that this site truly embodies a love of our country, and a consideration for the people who live here.
Maxine spoke passionately about the artists on her site as though they were her family. If you are buying for a child (Michigan author, Linda Sicks) or looking for a unique birdhouse (Ann Arbor, MI Phil Borkowski) this is the site you want to surf to. How about an exceptional bath product for your best friend(Linette Crosby, of the oldest mint farm in all of Michigan), or an original metal sculpture (Craig Stanke, Swartz Creek MI)? Anyone could appreciate rustic inspirational art with selections starting at $30.00 (Lisa Jarrell, MI). Maybe, a raincoat that would let your sister shine on rainy days (Denise Dickens) or music that would sing to the quiet part of your loved one (Frank Fileccia Michigan native)? Beautiful note cards starting at $4.00, by founder Maxine Gardner herself, are also a gift that anyone would love to receive.  
I strongly urge you to take a few minutes and visit this site. The attention to detail during the jury process is evident almost immediately. As Maxine said, “Yes, there maybe more than one jewelry maker [on the site], but none of them are the same.” Whether you are looking for bracelets, rings or unique metal jewelry (Laurie Brown, Ferndale, MI) this site offers a wonderful selection of pieces to complete your ensemble.
This stretches across the board, and the site is inspirational in and of itself. I can write with confidence that Maxine Gardner has found success as she endeavored to help other artists, many non profit organizations, and create a pleasant shopping experience for those who visit her website.  
I love this season, I love the hope that it brings, and the quiet reminder to love each other that the holiday serves as. As the temperature drops, the credit card balance rises and the children craft their letters to Santa, I hope that the coming Christmas finds you all happy and well. I also hope that you find your way to one of these charitable sites so that you and your loved ones can experience the joy of ‘multitasking gifts’.   

-ERIN MOREY