Fair Trade Hot Fudge

It’s ice cream season!!! And what is better with ice cream than a little (or a lot of) fair trade hot fudge. The idea of making hot fudge (fair trade hot fudge or otherwise) seemed daunting to me until I found a super easy recipe in Gwyneth Paltrow’s cookbook “My Father’s Daughter” .  I made some changes so as to use fair trade chocolate and it was still very tasty!

fair trade hot fudge_pic monkey

My Favorite Homemade Hot Fudge (aka Fair Trade Hot Fudge)

3 ounces semisweet dark chocolate (62 percent), finely chopped (I used fair trade chocolate chips at 42 percent)

1/4 cup heavy whipping cream

2 tablespoons brown rice syrup (or light corn syrup) (I used light corn syrup)

Combine all of the ingredients in a double boiler (or in a metal or glass bowl set above a pot of simmering water) and stir until completely melted about 3 minutes. Serve warm.

 

Gatsby Inspired Fair Trade!

The Great Gatsby has been one of my favorite novels since I was required to read it in high school. F. Scott Fitzgerald captures the human spirit in all of its complexity and lays it out in a beautifully crafted story. Although the book was published nearly 100 years ago the essence of the story still holds true today. And I must be honest while I love the story I equally love the clothing of the era as well.  1920′s fashion produced a remarkable style.  This weekend the latest film version with Leonardo Dicaprio as Jay Gatsby, a great pick in my opinion, came out, so I felt inspired to share with you some pieces from the Seven Hopes United collection that I feel invoke the spirit of the 1920′s.

Enjoy – Dawn

fair trade great gatsby

31Bits Elasticity Necklace

Garnet Heart Earrings

31Bits Gypsy Cuff

Scarlet Threads {Product Spotlight}

I don’t know about you, but to me, cybershopping always seems especially fun on a Friday. Especially if it’s payday. ;) So without further ado, I present to you our most recent crop of adorable aprons to hit the Seven Hopes Website—just in time for bridal shower season! (There’s nothing wrong with buying one for the bride-to-be AND one for you, right? Plenty to go around.)
Scarlet threads 1

These gorgeous aprons are made by Scarlet Threads, one of our very first partnerships at Seven Hopes. They have been working hard in the past year to bring visions of functional, frilly, and just plain fun aprons to life, and we’d say they have definitely succeeded! Check out the Vivian Ikat Apron below:Scarlet Threads 2And here’s another one of our recent faves and bestsellers, the Priscilla Ruffled Apron:

Scarlet Threads 3

Scarlet Threads empowers rural women through employment, much like many of the companies we work with. Based in a small village in Asia, Scarlet Threads provides women, many of whom only have an elementary school education, an opportunity to earn a steady source of income for their families. The purchase of Scarlet Threads’ aprons helps provide higher profits for women than they would earn locally. There are few opportunities for women to find work in this area, so Scarlet Threads is a powerful organization for the small rural village.

The mission of the organization is this: “We believe in the possibility of change. Scarlet Threads exists to make our core vision of ‘Work. Dignity. Beauty.’ a reality in the lives of our partner seamstresses.”

This amazing company makes more than just our beautiful aprons—check out some of their other goodies, such as jewelry, accessories, and childrens’ items, on their Website. You can read all about the women they employ there, and explore their core values of Fair Price, Profit Sharing, No Sweatshops, and Giving Back.

And speaking of cybershopping, that seems like a pretty great way to help celebrate World Fair Trade Day this Saturday! So don’t put your credit card away just yet. :) You can read more about World Fair Trade Day and how Seven Hopes is getting involved here–we’ll be out and about at various events in San Diego!

Have a happy weekend!

XO,
Casey

Real Couple’s Favorite Fair Trade Products – Theresa & Greg

Today we are featuring an extremely special couple – my sister and brother-in-law! Theresa and Greg recently moved to Portland, Oregon after years of planning and dreaming about their adventures there. They were married on a gorgeous day in Minnesota – October of 2011, at a park near their home in Saint Paul.

Greg being the outdoorsy type and Theresa the crafty type, their decorating style is artsy with bits of rustic nature. They’ve hung artistic photos of their travels throughout their home, and incorporated them with unique finds from thrift stores, handmade items, etc. When registering for fair trade products at Seven Hopes United, they stuck to the classics with a bit of handmade flair.

Without further ado, here are a few of Theresa & Greg’s favorite fair trade products!

theresa-greg-registry-favorites

1. Sliced Persimmon Mango Wood Bowl
2. Sweet Coconut & Vanilla & Spice Soap
3. White Wolof Fair Trade Storage Basket
4. Vintage Sari Throw

If you are interested in having your favorite fair trade products featured, email me and I will give you more details (it is easy and painless, I promise)!

Fair Trade Wedding Presents Guide

I love weddings! I know that weddings can be a bit stressful at times for those planning the event but in general weddings are a wonderfully joyous occasion, which brings people together.  As it turns out wedding season is upon us and perhaps you’ve been invited to a wedding or two (or three) in the coming weeks and months.  If you’ve been invited to a wedding this year, may I  suggest a unique gift that will most certainly please the bride and groom.  Why will they be pleased with their gift? Because Seven Hopes United offers beautiful fair trade presents that will enliven anyone’s home. Below you can find our fair trade wedding guide.

fair-trade-wedding-gift-guide

Pictured:
1. Rustic Personalized Wooden Serving Tray
2. Talavera Ceramic Square Bowl – Happy Tradition
3. Sari Patchwork Runner – Violet

Other Top Picks:
Indivisible Love – Wood Statuette
Blown Glass Pitcher – Confetti

Enjoy and have a very happy wedding season! – Dawn