Thursday Therapy

For a few hours every Thursday, I volunteer at Ten Thousand Villages, a fair trade store on Lake Avenue in Pasadena. My friend Gail has volunteered at the store in Utah for a long time and introduced me to it. When we first moved here I quickly became bored without a job and Andrew working all the time. While I was out exploring I came across the store here and decided to start volunteering. I have now been there for almost two years! When I first started working there I didn't know anything about fair trade (and honestly didn't really care to), I just wanted something to do. I have now grown to love the store, the people involved with it, and have embraced the mission of fair trade. I don't make it into the store every week and I really miss being there because it really is my time to get away from everything and make a small contribution to the world. That's why I consider it my "therapy."

Around here whenever people hear "fair trade" they automatically think of coffee. There is so much more to it than that! Ten Thousand Villages work with artisans in 37 different countries to help them earn a fair, sustainable, living wage. The store is full of so many amazing things, and everything is hand made! Everytime I walk into the store I find something new to fall in love with. Here are a few of my favorite things that I have bought at the store:

This is an "I Love You" puzzle. All of the letters fit into that heart shaped block in the back. Oh, and the red candle on the right is from there too.


I absolutely love the jewelry that we have at the store. And it is such a great price too! Here is part of my jewelry collection from the store.

I have a constant list of my "next purchase" at the store. There are so many amazing handbags, picture frames, home decor, etc. I think the next thing on the top of my list is one of the beautiful scarves, like this one. I don't really wear scarves, but if I had one like this I think I would wear it.
When you set out to do your Christmas shopping you have to stop by the store. It is the absolute perfect place to do all of your shopping. There is definitely something for everyone. And you don't have to worry about spending too much money, because it is all going to an extremely good cause! (I'm starting to sound like a commercial, so I will stop now)

Did I mention that they have the most amazing fair trade dark chocolate?