making a meaningful cup {win a keurig!!!}

I love coffee.  Like love it, love it.  So much so that I look forward to it as I go to bed each night, kind of love it.  It warms me, starts my day and gets me headed in the right direction.

You know what I don't love?  Waiting for it.  You know what else I don't love? A purchase I made causing distress to someone for the cause of my comfort. 

I know, I know, that's a little much for a cup of coffee, especially since maybe you haven't had yours yet this morning.  Maybe go grab a mug and come on back here, yes?

Having a Keurig® addresses my first issue, waiting.  With a Keurig I can have my coffee in moments, hot and fresh.  In the winter that is important to me since I STAY cold pretty much from September through April.  I love being able to flip a switch and have a hot cuppa! :)

My other issue is just as easy to address...Got your cup of coffee yet? Let's address purposeful spending...

What I mean is, if I am going to spend my money on something, I want to spend it wisely, in a way that blesses others and doesn't cause them despair.  I want my purchases to be meaningful and worthwhile and thoughtful.  And I don't mean organic.  Organic addresses a preference and I'm talking about quality of life.

That's where Fair Trade comes in.  You've heard of Fair Trade, yes?  Well, October is Fair Trade month!  A perfect opportunity for all of us to become more educated spenders.  To use our dollars to not only get a good product but to also get one that could possibly improve someone's quality of life.  Everyone wins! 

And yes, even a little cup of coffee can do that.

Here are a few FAQ's about Fair Trade to get your mind thinking:

Q.  What is Fair Trade?                                                                                                                             A:  Fair Trade is a global movement to help improve the lives of farmers and their families.  It provides a fair price to coffee farmers, resulting in a great cup of coffee and a better quality of life in coffee-farming communities. 

Q.  How does Fair Trade Certified coffee benefit coffee farmers?
A:  Most family coffee farmers live in remote locations and lack access to credit, so they are vulnerable to middlemen who offer cash for their coffee at a fraction of its value.  Fair Trade assures coffee farmers a fair price for unroasted, green coffee.  Fair Trade also links farmers directly with coffee companies like Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. (“GMCR”), creating long-term sustainability.

Q:  What makes Fair Trade Certified™ coffee high quality coffee?                                                                  

A:  Through Fair Trade, farmers earn better incomes, allowing them to hold onto their land and invest in quality.  This results in great coffee for consumers.

Q.  Why is Green Mountain Coffee® committed to Fair Trade?
A:  Fair Trade is one critical way that Green Mountain Coffee provides consumers high quality coffee while helping to ensure a better quality of life for coffee farmers and their communities.

Just imagine...your choice of coffee can have an impact on someone's life in a real and meaningful way!

In celebration of Fair Trade Month, Green Mountain Coffee is introducing Fair Trade Certified™ Three Continent Blend, which combines the flavors and aromas of three continents in one harmonious Extra Bold blend.  All that to say, it's EASY to make a choice that will benefit others because not only is this coffee Fair Trade...it's also available in K-cups!

By choosing to be choosy with your money you can purchase Fair Trade Certified Green Mountain Coffee, and help coffee farmers receive a fair price for their beans, resulting in a great cup of coffee and a better quality of life in coffee-farming communities

·       Purchasing Fair Trade products…

o   …helps small-scale coffee farmers and their families

o   …helps keep kids in school

o   …helps women support their families

Almost makes coffee a necessity of life, right? 

In celebration of Fair Trade month you have a chance to win your very own Keurig® Brewing System and Green Mountain Coffee® gift basket!

All you have to do is watch this video of Kelly Clarkson’s adventures in Peru (where she learns about Fair Trade Coffee) and learn more about Fair Trade at choosefairtrade.com and then answer me this:

"Are you a coffee drinker, and if so, would you consider buying fair trade coffee?"

Winners are chosen at random by Blogher! Good luck!  

Sweepstakes Rules: No duplicate comments. You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods: Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: “#SweepstakesEntry”; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry. This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winner will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected. The Official Rules are available here. This sweepstakes runs from 09/18/13-10/31/13.