Coffee, Caring, and ME to WE: A Holiday Gift Giveaway With A Difference

We love coffee - and we love travel gifts that go the distance. One lucky reader will get to win both!

My jaunty bird mug comes from Dedza Pottery in Malawi. It's been with me since I was 23! Curious about what's in my mug (or the pretty bracelet?) - read on!

Long time blog readers will know two absolute truths about Ryan and myself. The first is that we are obsessed with coffee.  Ryan loves a classic cup of black coffee, whereas I hold out for some combination of espresso and steamy milk, but together we are formidable force, tracking down every cappuccino counter and corner cafe around the world. 

The second is that we are enamored with anything that does double duty or that classifies as a two-for-one. 24 hour layovers on route to our main destination. Free guided tour day at the museum. Taking the brewery tour while half price appetizers are offered. In short, we want great bang for our buck and we want to be caffeinated while we get it. With that in mind, we are thrilled to offer an amazing giveaway to our beloved readers that combines BOTH of our passions!

We love, love, love this holiday gift pack from ME to WE - and we know that one lucky reader (the winner!) is going to feel the same way.

WE.org is a movement based on coming together to create a better world. It's a global, inclusive organization with Canadian roots (yay us!). You're probably well acquainted with WE Day, a world class event studded with celebrities and people who are stars in their own fields.  It can best be described as "a stadium full of change-makers (who) will reaffirm your belief that a better world is possible." The beautiful products in our giveaway come from ME to WE, WE.org's social enterprise, working towards sustainable change. ​

Recognize this? I was wearing it in the first photo! I really like how ME to WE ethically sources their mineral and stones.

ME to WE's sustainable mindset really resonates with us. Nearly five years ago, we blogged about how travelers can give back, especially when it comes to supporting the free museums, galleries, gardens, parks, and houses of worship that play such an important role in our value based travel philosophy. Some of our key tips echo our "double duty" mindset, like buying souvenirs in a National Parks gift shop so that you support the park while crossing off your shopping list at the same time. 

ME to WE products fit in perfectly with this approach. The items found in a WE store are every bit as 'gift-ish' as you'd find in your usual shopping haunts. I personally love the gorgeous bracelets, made with 24 carat gold covered beads and semi-precious stones. It's exactly like something I'd pick out from my favourite boutiques but now my money is going so much father. Just how far? All ME to WE product packaging has a code for the buyer to track their impact and see how and where their money is making a difference.  

Gorgeous gold jewelry might make your heart swoon but it isn't necessarily an every day purchase. But coffee is. Oh, is it ever! And we are so, so happy to see coffee included in ME to WE's lineup.

Coffee is essential in our household, but we never mind giving it away. As a gift, coffee is practical, it's popular, it travels well, and it's easy to wrap and make festive (maybe with some homemade cookies!) ME to WE coffee is very affordable at $12.99 a bag, which puts it at the perfect price point for all those awkward holiday gift moments - like the office Christmas gift exchange or the next door neighbour you don't really know - and I like how it elevates an everyday essential into something special and memorable.  Like all other products, the impact of your purchase can be tracked online. In the case of the coffee, it helps support sustainable employment and clean water in Ecuador. 

Supporting a charitable cause is not something we take lightly. We don't want to simply let our enthusiasm for coffee to get in the way of our responsibility. In our personal lives and in our business lives, we place huge trust in MoneySense magazine's advice on this matter.

We've been reading MoneySense together since before we were married (that's over 10 years!) and their common sense financial advice and perspectives on money, life, savings, and community have never steered us wrong. Every year, MoneySense does a comprehensive review of Canadian charities, assessing them on such criteria as efficiency (how much money goes towards administrative costs), their fundraising skills (how much does it cost to raise a certain amount of money), how transparent and well governed they are, and how well they manage their cash reserves (in other words, can they balance having enough cash on hand to sustain future operations without sitting on too much of it?)

We are very happy to see that WE.org gets a rare "A" grade. That tells us that, aside from doing good deeds, they are managing the money they receive responsibly, transparently, and with solid planning in place. 

We're always on the lookout for great 'double duty' moments and ways to give back - and we're happy to have one right here. One lucky Canadian reader will win an amazing ME to WE gift pack that's perfect for sharing at the holidays. It includes....

One package of coffee (of course!)
One chocolate bar.
One classic 'rafiki' (ME to WE's signature beaded bracelet - or anklet or chocker necklace or headband! - each one supports a different WE priority, like water or nutrition initiatives).
One 'intention' series necklace, featuring a semi-precious bead and an inspirational word carved in the pendant.
One semi-precious stone rafiki, featuring 24 carat gold coated beads. Like the classic rafikis, each supports a different WE cause.
A $10 gift card for ME to WE.

Value: Approximately $150!!!


Leave a comment telling us where you're planning to travel to in 2018 and fill out the ballot below!
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Some notes about the giveaway...You must have a Canadian mailing address to enter. Your contact information will be shared with ME to WE's team so they can get in touch with you directly to arrange delivery. We were given two complimentary gift packs - one for us to keep and review, and one to give away. All research, writing, and opinions are our own.

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