Beauty on the Backroads

Stories of grace for life's unexpected turns

holidays

5 on Friday: Books to get you through winter {plus a giveaway!}

It snowed here this week, which has me thinking all things winter. Hot drinks. Warm blankets. Pretty scenery (viewed from inside, of course!). While I’m not much of a play-in-the-snow kind of person, I don’t mind snow. If it’s going to be cold, I’d rather have snow than nothing.

1. A Wreath of Snow by Liz Curtis Higgs. I read this novella last year, and I’ll probabl

No matter the season, I have books on the brain. And I’ve been thinking of some Christmas-themed ones and winter-themed ones that might make your winter a little warmer. Here are five that come to mind. (And I’m giving two of them away!)wreath of snow

y pick it up again. I didn’t used to read Christmas stories around Christmas, but there’s a charm to it.

sweethave christmas2. A Sweethaven Christmas by Courtney Walsh. This is the third book in a series, but if you’re from a small town that has a Christmas walk/parade/festival, then this book will take you back there. I haven’t been to something like that in years but when I read this story, I felt like I was home. (Keep reading to find out how to win a copy of this one!)

3. Snow on the Tulips by Liz Tolsma. A new release I read this week (and it was on sale on Kindle!). Set in 1945 in the Netherlands, the book focuses on Dutch Resistance efforts and one woman’s internal battle with living safe or living free. Also, based, in part, on a true story from Tolsma’s family.

4. Winter in Full Bloom by Anita Higman. Another good one about a woman becoming who she truly is. I love that the main character’s name is Lily Winter. As she recovers from the loss of her husband and her daughter’s transition to college, Lily heads to Australia in search of a twin sister she never knew she had.

wildflowers from winter5. Wildflowers from Winter by Katie Ganshert. (I guess I have a thing for flowers and winter imagery!) In it, a small-town girl making it big in the city returns to her hometown to deal with tragedy and finds that leaving her past behind isn’t as easy as she thought. And I happen to have an extra signed copy of this one in the house, so I’d love to give it away. Consider it a Christmas present to you, my book-loving friends! Is there any better present than a book? Maybe, but books are near the top of the list for me!

And I’ve got a copy of A Sweethaven Christmas to give away! Two books, two winners!

So, how do you win? Just leave me a comment about what you love/hate/appreciate/despise about winter, or answer any of the questions below. Also, if you’d prefer one book over the other, let me know that. One winner per book, though! I’ll pick two winners on Tuesday, December 17 (my grandmother’s birthday!). (Contest open to U.S. readers.)

What other Christmas/winter books would you add to the list? Have you read any of these?

What stories do you like to read when the temperatures drop?

5 on Friday: Guilt-free Black Friday shopping

I avoid Black Friday shopping for the same reason I don’t go to the grocery store on Saturday mornings, Sundays or late afternoon on weekdays: I don’t like crowds, and people in a rush make me anxious.

That said, I do like shopping when I have money to spend. So, I don’t want to be a Black Friday party pooper, but I also want to encourage your holiday shopping to make a difference in the world, not just in your world.

Here are five places to shop tonight, and the rest of the holiday season (and all year long) that won’t leave you feeling guilty and will make a positive difference in someone else’s life.

1. Imagine Goods. I’ve told you before about the fabulous work these ladies are doing. But I’ll say it again. And again. And again. Here, they’re selling clothes, tablecloths, napkins, and aprons made through a trustworthy supply chain by workers earning a fair wage in Cambodia. They’re recycling clothing (and brass from landmines!) into new clothing and jewelry. And they provide a symbol on each of their pieces so you, the buyer, can learn about the person who made your clothing and what this job means to them.

2. Nozomi Project. A Japanese friend introduced me to this beautiful work. Through this project, Japanese women are finding hope and lives restored as they create jewelry from broken pottery left in the aftermath of the 2011 tsunami. The jewelry is beautiful and so are the stories.

3. The Exodus Road. Okay, this one is a limited time only. Ends Nov. 30. This anti-trafficking organization is offering gift packs ranging from $17-$25 that include a book about the organization, bumper stickers and a T-shirt or sweatshirt, depending on the donation. The real gift here isn’t what you get. It’s what you give. Purchasing a gift pack enables the funding of investigations into sex trafficking in Southeast Asia and India. Their goal by the end of tomorrow is to fund an entire year of investigations. Your purchase can help.

4. Restyle. I got a set of handmade cards from this company a few years ago, and they are gorgeous! Not only that, but they are eco-friendly and made by women earning a fair wage in India and El Salvador. (Are you sensing a theme here?) But cards are only a small part of their products. They, too, have jewelry made from seeds, wallets and bags made from recycled tire tubes, and ornaments made, in part, from recycled orange peels. I love innovation and creativity, and these products showcase that. And, again, they provide quality employment for women around the world.

5. Catalogs. When I was a kid, I couldn’t wait for the humongous department store catalog to show up at my grandparents’ house. Then my brother and I would flip through it and circle what we wanted for Christmas. That’s a bygone practice for department stores, but there are a ton of organizations that offer giving catalogs this time of year. In them you’ll find opportunities to give money toward gifts like goats and chickens, milk, mosquito nets, clean water and other life-saving necessities we take for granted but are absent in the poorest countries of the world. Check out organizations like Heifer International, Compassion, and Samaritan’s Purse for starters.

This is not in any way an exhaustive list of how you can give and shop with meaning this holiday season. But if you’re looking for a place to start, these are good options. Feel free to add your own ideas and suggestions in the comments.