At Choosing Beauty, Mondays are made for celebrating everyday Wonder Women who are using their skills and smarts to make this world a better, brighter place. Check out this week’s super-cool chicks…
ROBIN NORGREN
As I was doing some holiday shopping at some of my fave Etsy shops, I discovered that Robin Norgren is doing something extra-wonderful with her talents. She knits adorable multi-colored wrist cuffs with inspirational word patches (like “believe” and “breathe” and “strength”). And all of the proceeds go to CARE, which works to help and empower impoverished women and children around the world. Find more info on her Well of Creations blog. She’s already raised over $700 for the organization through her Etsy shop (she also makes great totes and scarves). So, if you need some stocking stuffers and want to help those in need, hop over and support Robin! 
ANN EVANS
I love it when mamas use their creativity and passion to solve a problem for the rest of us! Minnesota mom Ann Evans did just that when she launched butter&beans in October. She couldn’t seem to find any eco-friendly, stylish baby clothes made with rich colors and textures. So, she set out to make it happen! Bye bye, bland & boring…hello, butters&beans! She gathered together great minds and motivated mamas – including two top-notch seamstresses. The result is a collection of super-cute, hand-stitched organic and sustainable children’s clothing. The organic items are made from raw materials grown without artificial fertilizers, pesticides or chemicals; her sustainable fabrics are made from earth-friendly, natural fibers.
Everything about butter&beans is earth-friendly, from their packaging materials (all recyclable, sustainable and organic) to their tags (made from scrap fabric) to the organic cotton gift wrap ribbon. Now’s a great time to stock up on gifts: with any $50 purchase, you’ll get a free butters&beans organic onesie through Dec. 20th and they’re offering free shipping through Dec. 31st.
SUE PIEPER
I learned today that inspirational mixed media artist Sue Pieper of Artful Adventures is quite sick and may spend her second consecutive Christmas in the hospital. Her family would love to collect 1,000 paper cranes to lift Sue’s spirits (just imagine all those handmade birds filling her hospital room!). Hopefully, she’ll be inundated with origami cranes (here’s how to make paper cranes) and lifted up by love from friends and strangers near and far. Cranes can be sent to: Sue Pieper,E. 557 Macco Road, Luxemburg, WI 54217.
