12 Days of Giving

Aside from birthdays, Christmas has to be the most selfish celebration of the year. However if one was to go back to the actual origin of the holiday, they would realize that it was meant to be the opposite. Think about it. Christmas came to be because God gave his only son to the world. Everyone who had come to see baby Jesus was so joyful that they gave him gifts to celebrate his arrival. The tradition of gift giving was meant to be enjoyable and focused on the recipient of the present. But today it's become more selfish and stressful.

"How did we get here?" one might ask. That's easy. We live in a consumer driven society where more is always more: more presents, more expensive, more technologically advanced, more, more, more for me! Children are trained from a very young age to want: everything. Even those who do not have children have had the opportunity to witness the "I want this toy now" temper tantrum. Children and adults alike manipulate their loved ones to get just the gifts they want. They are doing it as we speak!

So with only 12 days of shopping left before Christmas, we (Excess Chatter and F.W.A.C.) thought it would be fun to feature gifts that are as cute and desirable as they are good for the soul. These 12 #giftsthatgiveback are special because they take the focus off of ourselves and revert it onto people who are in need. They can change the face of the world we live in. A world where so many go without clean water, food and clothing. Let's make this Christmas truly meaningful by giving gifts that give life.

Join us on Twitter @FashionWACNY and Facebook to get some extras and make your suggestions! Use the hashtags #giftsthatgiveback #12daysofGIVING and #L2G

Let's Live 2 Give!