give thanks, give back
As the holiday season rapidly approaches (seriously -- where has the time gone?), the stress of meal prepping, party planning, traveling, and gift giving begins to set in. Like many people, I get lost in the chaos of the holidays and that anxiety can sometimes get the best of me. I often lose sight of what the holidays are all about: giving thanks, and giving back. That's why I'm so excited to be collaborating with Mariah Althoff, the designer behind Scarves by Mariah.
Mariah's infinity scarves are hand-knit and available in holiday hues like red, plum, mustard yellow, and oatmeal. For the color averse (like yours truly), her scarves also come in black. They are perfectly oversized, ridiculously comfy/warm, and oh-so easy to style. And she accepts custom orders -- but that isn't even the best part of Mariah's enterprise! Her shop began as a fundraiser for her boyfriend's father who passed away from lung cancer. While fundraising to help with his medical expenses, Mariah realized that making these scarves was an efficient way to raise money.
Since then, Mariah has decided to reopen her shop. As her grandmother faces her own battle with cancer, Mariah is using her talents to support the cause of finding a cure. Ten percent of Mariah's sales go directly to lung cancer research. As you're contemplating gifts this holiday season, I encourage you to not only shop locally and support small businesses and designers, but to also be aware of ways in which you can contribute to great causes -- like Mariah's -- through gift giving. Be intentional, and spread joy, hope, and cheer wherever and whenever you can.
After all, isn't that what the holidays are all about?
