Today I will be vulnerable, and I hope you bear with me.
I don’t share many things about my personal life here on the blog, but for some reason I felt strongly that I should share our yearly tradition of “Light The World” with you this year. 

“Light the World” is an initiative put out by the church I belong to, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. This initiative is 4 weeks of ideas of how to make the world, your community, your family and yourself better and brighter during the month of December.

I love that the ideas are super simple. These ideas require only a small amount of effort and you can incorporate them easily into your daily routine, but these small efforts could mean real change to you and those around you.  I know many of you have donated your crocheted items to those in need and this is absolutely a wonderful way of Lighting the World! 

I printed out this advent calendar a couple weeks ago (you can download this free serving-based advent calendar here) and put it on the fridge so my family could prepare to serve others these next weeks of December. In the past, the advent calendar had daily ideas, but this year the advent calendar has been split into 4 weeks:

– Light the World
– Light your Community
– Light your Family 
– Light your Faith

I strongly believe in teaching my children very young how to serve others (not just during the Holidays!). Serving really helps kids see the needs of others and my hope is that my kids will learn to love those around them and strive to put the needs of others before themselves.  

Dallas and I were also able to visit the Giving Machine in Salt Lake City, Utah this past weekend.  It’s a vending machine with a charitable twist. You choose your items just like a regular vending machine, and purchase with your credit card. However, instead of buying candy or soda, you are purchasing charitable items for people in need. Donations ranged from filling a backpack for $5 to buying a cow for $150. Dallas and I decided to buy 100 meals and two chickens. What a small way to make a big difference (I hope) in someone’s life.

 

You are definitely NOT required to use the advent calendar that I shared, but my hope is that we can all work together to make the space around us just a bit more positive and loving.

Outward positive energy can also turns inward and make our own lives more positive, and I think we could all use a bit more positive energy!

Will you join me in Lighting the World this holiday season? 

 

xoxo,

 

 

 

 

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I’ve rounded up some of the best Black Friday deals for CROCHETERS! Stock up favorites, try a new product or hobby and find something fun for you or one of your crafty friends. Get it while it’s on sale!
Some of these links are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting Whistle and Ivy! 

Black Friday for crocheters? Heck yes! My inbox has been filled with deals for this week and I wanted to share some of them with you. Because I am a firm believer in treating yo’self!  

 Some the Black Friday  sales out there are a bit MEH (most of them to be honest), but some are YAY (check out the patterns sales!) So check them out, and I hope you find something you love! 

YARN DEALS:  
– LoveCrochet – Up to 50% customer favorite yarns
– Red Heart (Different deals each day!) 
– Secret Santa Bags! 9 skeins for $9.99 at Lion Brand (these sell out fast!) 
– up to 60% off Wool and The Gang 
– 35% off Vanna’s Choice, Wool Ease and Homespun 
– 30% off $100 purchase – Darn Good Yarn
– 30% off We Are Knitters 

HOOK DEALS: 
– 43% off Tulip Hook Set 
 – 40% off Caspian Interchangeable Crochet Hook 
– up to 30% off Furls Hooks + up to 40% off accessories (WHAT?!)