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However, after more than four years, I have given myself permission to ease up a bit whenever something comes up that is not easy to either buy used, borrow, or do without. Case in point: the Curious George toy pictured above, which I really wanted to give to our niece’s new baby boy. It has been one of our favorite gifts for a baby in the past, not only because my husband and I both love the classic book series, but because his name is George and he is nothing if not curious. So I decided to go ahead and purchase this cutie-pie, in hopes that he would become a favorite and beloved toy of baby Miles.

I did manage to include a handmade gift with the package by knitting a cute little hat, which Curious George is wearing in this photo. Hopefully it will fit Miles, because my first try came out so small it now belongs to my stuffed dog. We also added a couple of favorite board books, one of which was Curious George, of course. Books have been one of my exceptions to The Compact for a long time now, as I want to support writers and books and everything literary.

My other recent purchase was two pair of new jeans, because that is the one clothing item I have been unable to buy used or acquire at a clothing swap. Jeans need to fit perfectly and be comfortable, and I usually need to try on at least 50 pairs in order to find one that makes the cut. In fact, in preparation for starting The Compact, my final crazed last-minute purchase was two pair of jeans, when I realized that I didn’t have any jeans that would last me through what I thought was going to be one year of not buying anything new. I lasted four years, but my jeans were getting pretty worn out.

I’m okay with both of these purchases. I’m giving myself permission to buy anything I want new, because it is such a rare event, and because I feel that overall my purchases are conscious and responsible. And that’s the real point of this whole non-consumer thing.

If you’re a Compacter, have you purchases anything new lately? If not, are there any items you find particularly difficult to purchase used? If you’re thinking about joining The Compact, what items are you most concerned about not buying new? Please leave your thoughts and questions in the Comments section.

The post Still Compact-y After All These Years first appeared on Angela Barton.

The following is a reprint of a previously published post.

If you’ve been trying to avoid the commercialism of the mall, but still find yourself with an unfinished gift list that you need to fill, I have a few last-minute ideas for you. Whether you’re a procrastinator extraordinaire, have people on your list who seem to already have everything, or have just been unusually busy, I hope you can cross someone off your list after reading this post. The main criterion for my selections, on top of being non-consumer, are that you don’t have to leave the house.

1. SnagFilms.com. I just learned about this great website that lets you send a friend a “virtual movie theater” with a playlist of up to 10 full-length documentary films. They currently have 1000 free documentaries on the site, ranging from politics to the environment to music. Just a few titles from their library: Super Size Me, What Would Jesus Buy?,  and The End of America.
This gift is eco-friendly and free. It would be a great option for a movie buff who loves documentaries but might not know about this service. And someone who doesn’t think you’re cheap because you’re not spending money. Because what you’re giving, including your time, doesn’t have a price tag.

2. Make a donation in their name. I’ve already talked about Global Giving, one of my favorites. Your loved one can choose where they want to put their money, and for as little as $10, they can buy malaria nets for a family in Mali, buy books for schoolgirls in Afghanistan, or contribute to a host of worthwhile projects. Other great organizations are Children.org, which allows them to sponsor a child or donate to an individual project, or Heifer International, where they can give the gift of livestock to a family in an effort to lift them out of poverty while providing a source of nourishment. If you want something physical to present as a gift, most of these places let you download a certificate/card for the recipient.

3. Food. Finally, many people enjoy the gift of food during the holidays, I know I do. If you’re afraid they might have already OD’d on baked goods, try something like mixed nuts or homemade trail mix. My favorite combines almonds, walnuts, pecans, salt, cumin, dried apricots, dried cranberries, and dark chocolate chips. You just heat the nuts in a pan on medium until slightly browned, remove from the heat and lightly coat with cooking spray, and toss with salt and a little cumin. Then let it cool completely before adding the remaining ingredients. It’s delicious, and listed as a great snack for women over 40 because the nuts contain omega-3s which lower bad cholesterol and raise the good kind, plus lower the risk of heart attack if you eat them several times a week. If you have a tree, fresh lemons are always appreciated, or fresh herbs from the garden if you live in a temperate climate.

Most importantly, remember that the season isn’t about competitive shopping and figuring out the best STUFF to buy. It isn’t about STUFF at all. One year I simply wrote cards telling my family members what they meant to me and I think they appreciated the time and thought behind it. But no matter what you do, try to enjoy yourself because life is too short to dwell on unimportant details.

Happy Holidays. If you have any last-minute gift ideas you’d like to share, please tell us about them in the Comments section.

The post Last minute non-consumer holiday gift ideas first appeared on Angela Barton.

I wish I could give every reader a gift certificate, but I only have the one to offer. Thanks to all who entered, and you have given me some great gift ideas. I encourage everyone to read through the comments on the last post to see all the gorgeous items people found on the website.

I hope some of you will go ahead and treat yourselves to the items you wished for. And if you love beautiful, unique handmade items, consider Novica for gift-giving this holiday season.

The post Novica giveaway winner first appeared on Angela Barton.

NOVICA is one of the leading fair trade artisan websites. They work with National Geographic to give talented artisans around the world a place to express their artistic talents and provide access to the world market. They have thousands of top fair trade corporate gifts, accessories, jewelry and home decor items on their website.

I first heard about them when my friend Kristen at The Frugal Girl wrote this post and I fell in love with her beautiful silver earrings. So when NOVICA contacted me with an offer for a gift certificate, I accepted and asked that it be split into two certificates so that I could choose something for myself and then write a review and do a giveaway. I’m happy to say that I loved the purse I chose and used it all summer, and now it’s time to offer one reader the chance to win a gift certificate!

To enter, visit NOVICA and then come back and leave a comment telling me what you’d buy with the $37 gift certificate. Maybe you’ll treat yourself, or perhaps you’ll get a head start on your holiday shopping.

I will pick a winner at random at midnight on Thursday, November 8th, so you must enter by then to win. I’ll announce the winner on Friday, November 9th.

I love the jewelry and purses, but you should also check out these gorgeous shawls and scarves:

From Bali and Indonesia

Alpaca Wool Shawls

Hand-painted silk scarves

Since handmade items have been added to my exceptions list (especially for gifts), I feel good about supporting this company, and great about introducing it to you.

Good luck!

The post A Novica giveaway! first appeared on Angela Barton.

We had intended to go camping in a nearby canyon with waterfalls in an area that is described as Shangri-La, but unfortunately we were rained out and had to give up that plan. On the upside, since it was raining at the Grand Canyon, we were able to get a room at a very reasonable price. The next day, after the morning started out cloudy with light rain, the afternoon cleared up and we were grateful to experience one of the most spectacular hikes of our lives. The scenery is simply indescribably awesome, and photos can’t possibly do it justice. I actually wept at our first glimpse of the canyon. We enjoyed another fabulous hike the following day, as well as taking a tram along the rim to several lookout points, and watching the sunset from a spectacular vantage point.

Though it wasn’t as frugal as it would have been had we been able to camp, it was still a very non-consumer vacation, since the only money we spent was for gas, food, and lodging (and a few drinks). We didn’t need to purchase anything for the trip, were able to borrow two large duffel bags to carry all our camping equipment, and easily did without any souvenirs.

Hiking into the Grand Canyon was something we’d both wanted to do together, and now we’re excited to return next year and camp where we originally intended, as well as hike all the way down into the floor of the canyon and stay at the famous Phantom Ranch when we’re both in a little better shape. At ten miles each way, it’s not for wusses.

Now that it’s officially fall, I’m more than ready for an end to the record-breaking temperatures we’ve been experiencing. But with a forecast of 99 degrees tomorrow, it looks like it’s going to be a little while. Is it fall in your neck of the woods yet? What non-consumer activities have you been enjoying to celebrate? Please share in the Comments section.

The post The absolutely grand Grand Canyon first appeared on Angela Barton.

My dad and I kayaked along a gently flowing river for about 3 hours, stopping twice for a dip. We saw several birds including ducks, geese, a great blue heron, an osprey, and even a bald eagle! We also spied a deer peering at us from behind some tall grass.

It was a perfect summer day outdoors and I feel so lucky to have shared it with my father. They live in northern Idaho and I don’t get to see my parents very often, so when I visit I have the feeling that I need to make it count. I was happy that my dad had gone to the trouble to buy a rack for the car to carry the kayaks, and I know he had a good time because he was telling friends about it afterward and showing them pictures. I think he got a particular kick out of the fact that I was game for jumping off the rope swing. I tried it three times before I finally got the hang of it, and I never did avoid getting water up my nose, but it was exhilarating!

In southern California, summer doesn’t really end until at least October. And so we’re trying to get in plenty of non-consumer summer fun before what passes for fall becomes a reality sometime around Halloween. We’re playing ping pong, enjoying free outdoor concerts, BBQ and long walks after dark, stone fruit and berries, friends’ swimming pools, refreshing summer cocktails, and ice cream. Definitely ice cream.

I hope you enjoyed plenty of simple summer pleasures this year, and if you live in a warm climate are partaking of them as long as you can.

What did you do this summer? Please share in the Comments section.

Here’s another shot of our marvelous day. What a gorgeous spot we found…

The post Simple summer pleasures first appeared on Angela Barton.

While the trip wasn’t exactly frugal (the flight cost me $423), the activities we enjoyed all week were most definitely non consumer, and I spent almost no money the whole trip. The week was both fun and relaxing, and included hanging out with my parents, my brother, and his friends, swimming in the lake, and lots of kayaking. I kayaked around the island twice, and my dad and I took the kayaks down a nearby river for a 3-hour excursion. We paddled, swam, and used a rope swing to jump into the river. We saw geese, ducks, a great blue heron, osprey, a deer, and a bald eagle, but no people. It was a wonderful day.

I also went hiking, stargazed at night, helped my brother cook a fabulous dinner for the group, took a bike ride through their neighborhood with my dad, and explored their little town with my parents. The vacation was a much-needed getaway, and decidedly non consumer. And it was fantastic!

You don’t need to spend lots of money to have a great vacation. What are some of your favorite non consumer getaways? What have you been doing for vacation this summer? Please share in the Comments section.

The post Summer vacation first appeared on Angela Barton.

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Please share your own unconventional and inspirational lifestyle stories in the Comments section.

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