We Covet | Better Living Through Consumerism

We Covet beautiful zines that help girls in Rwanda

Let's Learn How to Help Ourselves and Others (GirlPowerAfrica Zine) is a story within a story, and covetable as a gift for both kids and adults. 

The inspiring story within the pages is the true tale of Odette Umurerwa's development of an egg-selling cooperative with her brother and the other children when she was seven years old in a refugee camp in Uganda.  Written in Kinyarwanda with English translation on each page, it is an amazing story of self-empowerment, strength and hope.  I am personally ditching my standard tween girl birthday present of Island of the Blue Dolphins in favor of this zine.

The zine came about when American blogger Jen Lemen befriended Umurerwa, whose VISA currently does not allow her to travel to visit her two teenage daughters.  Through their friendship Lemen heard the Umurerwa's chicken co-op story, and then came a plan for Lemen to travel to Rwanda to visit Umurerwa's daughters and family last month.  All proceeds from the sale of the zine went to the funding of the trip and will now benefit the care of Umurerwa's daughters in Rwanda.

The booklet was distributed on Lemen's trip to school girls in Rwanda as a girls' empowerment piece and as a tool for building literacy in both languages. Also an artist, Lemen illustrated the zine with original watercolor paintings done in vibrant colors that convey love and hope. 

Let's Learn How to Help Ourselves $10 @ Etsy

Manual We Covet

When Web MD just won't satisfy your hypochondriac desire to jack up a seasonal-allergy sniffle into the bubonic plague, rest uneasy knowing The Complete Manual Of Things That Might Kill You will be there to turn your hysteria all the way up to ELEVEN.

The world’s worst maladies, conveniently organized by symptom (real or imagined), will ignite even the mildest hypochondriac’s fantasy life. We’re all going to die of something—why not choose an ailment that’s rare and hard to pronounce?

Indeed. A great gift for every old and/or infirm person in your life!

The Complete Manual Of Things That Might Kill You, $19.95 @ Knock-Knock

Gift For New Moms We Covet

Imagine a world where your husband insists on changing dirty diapers, cooks gourmet meals, does the housework and gets up in the middle of the night when the baby cries. Now that's hot.

Oh yeah baby, twist that Diaper Genie. TWIST IT. HARD.

(This book contains no actual nudity. Sorry to disappoint, ladies. It is, however, chock full o' pictures of hot men doing housework and childcare, which, you know, I'd totally take over photos of anyone's junk any day.)

Porn for New Moms, $10.36 @ amazon.com

Children's Book We Covet: Scaredy Squirrel

Melanie Watt's charming book "Scaredy Squirrel" is, hands-down, the funniest, most delightful children's book I've read to my daughter since, errm, something by Mo Willems.

The book follows the OCD, fretful life of one Squirrel with some serious issues (especially where germs and "biters" are concerned). I quite literally LOLed. A must have for parents and preschoolers, and ideal birthday gift fodder.

Scaredy Squirrel, $10.17 @ Amazon.com