Are you cool?

Cool People Care is a company that is dedicated to helping others make a difference. Whether that's providing ideas for small, simple acts with their 5 Minutes of Caring newsletter, promoting meaningful, local events with their online calendar, or connecting volunteers with non-profits with their partner pages, Cool People Care is a pioneer on the path of social entrepreneurship.

ghia and Cool People Care recently teamed up to encourage shoppers to ditch those ubiquitous plastic grocery bags and start carrying reusable shopping totes. We've developed organic cotton totes that are essential for your next shopping trip. Made in the USA and printed in Nashville, these totes are eco-friendly and fun!

You can order the bags at www.shopghia.com.

ghia in East Nashville this weekend!

Hey, ghia fans!

We've got two events in East Nashville this weekend, so check us out.

October 13
East Nashville Fall Festival
11am to 3pm
700 Russell St
Nashville, TN 37206

This should be a really fun event. Edgefield Baptist Church is sponsoring the community gathering. In addition to artisan and craft vendors, there will be music, games, and one of those bouncy thingies.


October 14
CRAFT @ The Lipstick Lounge
11am to 5pm
Woodland St. at 14th St.
Nashville, TN 37206

This is the monthly gathering of crafty folks behind the Lipstick Lounge. It's a great way to find unique, top quality jewelry, apparel, candles, and other items of awesomeness.

We'll have some new products at these events, including cold weather accessories like hats and arm warmers, plus organic cotton shopping totes!

Check out a complete listing of upcoming ghia events on our new Events page at www.shopghia.com.

I Wish

The holiday season is approaching, and for me that means it's time to update my gift wishlist.

As much as I would like to pretend I've shed my desire for material things, I love making lists of things that have caught my eye. And, after all, my family needs some gift ideas for me, right? :-)

In previous years, I've made my wishlist at a big-online-store-that-shall-go-unnamed. My wishlist at the mega-store worked well, but I found it lacking in a few things. What if I wanted to add a pillow made by an independent artist at Etsy, or I wanted to request a donation for my favorite charity? I could add many items to my wishlist, but there wasn't an easy way to ask for a giftcard to my favorite local stores.

So recently I've switched to Kaboodle, a service that lets me add to my wishlist products from any site. So now my favorite jewelry from ghia and my favorite gadgets from ThinkGeek can be on the same list with the books and DVDs I love. Plus, I can make my own wishlist items, like a wish for world peace or a request for money to take classes at the Nashville Jazz Workshop.

A friend of mine uses a similar site, The Things I Want, and it allows her to add everything from fabric for sewing projects to vintage clothes.

The wish list websites are a great way to let your friends and family know about products that fit your values, whether it's fair trade coffee or journals made from recycled paper.

Shameless Self-Promotion time: Did you know you can make your ghia wishlist? Just register on shopghia.com, add your favorite fair trade and local products, and send your list to your friends and family!

Featured Product: Silk Coin Purse

This elegant silk coin purse is a great way to carry your keys and cards when you're on the go. Small enough to fit in your hand or drop in a bag, the coin purse keeps your valuables safe and secure with a zip closure and a handy keychain.

Best of all, this coin purse is made at a fair trade organization in India, so you know your purchase is supporting ethical manufacturing processes!

Find about more about this product on shopghia.com.