Empowered Giving 2018
November 30, 2018The holidays are here again so we asked some of our favorite empowered
women what’s on their wish lists and what they are giving their fellow boss-babes. From marble manicures to me time, we were inspired by all of the creative gift ideas and thoughtful responses we’ve received.
Photo by Dallas, Texas fashion photographer Alicia Stepp
Amanda de Cadenet, Talk Show Host, Photographer, Founder and CEO of Girlgaze @amandadecadenet
What gift do you want to give the world this year? Permission to speak the truth.
If you could give your girlfriends anything, what would it be? My time.
What are you giving yourself? More space to daydream.
Charitable gift: The Girlgaze Foundation
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Lauren Ramirez, Interior Designer and Founder of Creative Ladies Night - Austin @lauren.ramirez.atx
What gift do you want to give the world this year? You know, this is hard,
but I think I want to give the gift of grace. Grace to refuse passing judgement
on others or on myself, but rather to acknowledge and appreciate that most
people are just showing up and doing their best each day. I also think grace is
the antidote for so much of the hurt, anger and judgement around us today. Women showing up for each other, with hearts full of grace and encouragement, can help heal the places we have all been wounded and let down. We get to choose
everyday how we want to make the world around us a better place.
If you could give your girlfriends anything, what would it be? This is
very superficial, but I’ve been obsessed with the marble gel manicure at E’shee
Nails this Fall - I love the organic, interesting lines in a chic black and white palette. I also love the inspiration that having tiny pieces of art on each nail brings to my life. They are so tiny but they bring me a lot of joy! It may not be everyone’s taste, but I would love to gift an artist designed manicure to my girlfriends.
What are you giving yourself? I’ve been saving up and getting excited about a sourcing / inspiration trip to Guatemala in Q1 of 2019 with a friend. I am such a creature of habit that I’ve sensed for a while that I need to get away to a different culture for some creative inspiration. I can’t wait!
What charitable gift do you like to give? My husband and I are very committed to the work of The Archibald Project - a storytelling non-profit that advocates for ethical adoption and foster care. Some dear friends started this amazing organization and they are now in the process of adopting a sibling set of three kids from
Congo themselves as they continue the work of educating people to help end the
world orphan crisis. We love to support their work through our time, energy and
charitable giving!
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Tiffany Johnston, Director of Senior Artists North America/West MAC Cosmetics @ttjohnston
What gift do you want to give the world this year? I’d love to share the gift of understanding, love and gratitude.
If you could give your girlfriends anything, what would it be? Letting them know I am always here and available for them as well as giving their favorite lipstick.
What are you giving yourself? The patience to know I’m working on my own path and it’s right for me.
What charitable gift do you like to give? I always give to the American Diabetes Association. And my son and I always put together backpacks full of necessary items for our local homeless friends.
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Tania Quintanilla, Photographer @tqphoto
What gift do you want to give the world this year? I would love to give each person of planet earth grace, healing, and hope, unconditional self love, and a friend to lean on. While I’m on a roll: peace and a fat heap of joy! But if that can’t happen then maybe just a copy of Russ Harris’ The Happiness Trap: How to Stop Struggling and Start Living: A Guide to ACT
If you could give your girlfriends anything, what would it be? A shoulder to lean on, to listen and support, to lift them up and show them how they inspire me. Also, this book by my new favorite poet, Yung Pueblo: Inward. And I’d give them some of my favorite body scrub and body butter from Rachel’s Plan Bee.
What are you giving yourself? I just bought myself some of the yummiest winter socks. I stole a pair from my sister and had to get another: Jane and Bleecker plushfill slipper socks.
What charitable gift do you like to give? I am a huge fan of Humans of New York. I am so inspired by what Brandon and his organization does to help people directly. His photography and copy reach a huge audience and really help communities as well as individuals. He has raised and given back millions with the help of people through social media. The Patreon app makes it easy to support HONY.
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Bianca Castillo, Celebrity Hairstylist @bianca_beautyatx
What gift do you want to give the world this year? The gift of healing. I wish all our broken bits would heal.
If you could give your girlfriends anything, what would it be? Abundance of self-love, acceptance, and realization of their gifts and powers! I love gifting this classic-Christmas-red nail polish from Kendra Scott (Berry Illusion Nail Laquer) for the holidays, it looks great on all skin tones!
What are you giving yourself? Permission to let go of what doesn’t serve me.
What charitable gift do you like to give? I’m always giving my time and donating my talents to causes I believe in throughout the year.
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Alicia Stepp, Photographer @aliciastepptx
What gift do you want to give the world this year? Oversimplified but true - peace, love and understanding. Empathy and compassion first and foremost.
If you could give your girlfriends anything, what would it be? Security, confidence, an unlimited shopping spree at Northpark Center in Dallas… and a slice of humble pie. No really, there’s an amazing place here called Humble Pies and it is seriously the best pie you will ever have.
What are you giving yourself? Permission to say no, R&R, mindfulness - more living in the moment and focusing on one thing at a time, and to that end - a commitment to not overcommit in 2019. See what I did there?
What charitable gift do you like to give? Farm Sanctuary is my favorite non-profit organization - I am a big lover of animals and love what they do to help rescue and rehabilitate farm animals.
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Jeni H. Brady, Hair & Makeup Artist, Celebrity Groomer @jenibradyhair
What gift do you want to give the world this year? I would love to give every human the gift of uncovering their truth. I think, simply in regards to our purpose on this earth, I believe our truth is to love. If we could all tap that on the regular it would be a vastly different world.
If you could give your girlfriends anything, what would it be? If money was no object I would take all of my girlfriends to a week long spa trip where the yummiest, organic body products were used, and the most delicious meals were served. No cell phone service or wi-fi allowed. All laughter, relaxation, and connection. Everyone would get to take home a full set of safe beauty and body products to enjoy all year long.
What are you giving yourself? I’ve been slowly gifting myself all new make-up that is free of dangerous chemicals. My favorites that I highly recommend to anyone are this Tinted Face Oil by Kosas, this blush by BeautyCounter, and their Velvet Eyeshadow Palette in Classic. These brands are majorly on point with formula and performance. So, I guess I’m giving myself the gift of wellness, a bit more control of what goes into my body, and hopefully a better quality of life. I’ve cleaned up my house and family body products years ago but my make-up- I’ve been holding out: )
What charitable gift do you like to give? I love supporting the Austin SAFE Alliance. It provides housing, safety, support and counseling to women and children
who are victims of abuse. They even foster children if needed. It’s a really important organization.
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Shannon Van Horn, Celebrity Makeup Artist, @makeupbysvh
What gift do you want to give the world this year? I would like to give the world Confidence to know that we have the ability to incite change and Faith to believe that things will get better.
If you could give your girlfriends anything, what would it be? I would make it so that whenever they look in the mirror, they see all of the things that I love about them instead of their perceived flaws… And I’d give them The Trunk by Drunk Elephant.
What are you giving yourself? This year, I am giving myself permission to be released from guilt. I will not let myself feel guilty about trivial things.
What charitable gift do you like to give? I love to support The Shop Forward and FEED. Check out The 4 Things Tote and The Feed 1 BAG for a great meaningful holiday gift idea.
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Follow @TroveAgency on Instagram and tell us what you’re gifting the empowered women in your life.
