31 Bits (of paper that is)

Over the holidays, I was lucky enough to host a 31 Bits party.  The company continues to fall in line with my husband and my challenge this year.  We are purchasing with a purpose!

Their Story:
We were carefree juniors in college. We were waitresses and babysitters, living for the moment. But with graduation just a year away, we knew we were supposed to be figuring out what was next. We began filling out grad school applications, applying for jobs, and making travel plans. But in the midst of planning out what was next, our lives were interrupted.
Our classmate, Kallie, had just gotten back from a life-changing trip to Uganda. She met women who grew up in a war and had nothing. They were single moms with no education and no job, and they were our age. OUR AGE. Our lives couldn’t look more different.
What the women lacked in education, they made up for in skill and resourcefulness. They were making incredible jewelry out of old posters. Kallie brought a box of the jewelry back, and we fell in love instantly. We sold the jewelry to friends and ran out within weeks. That’s when it hit us. These women had a skill, but needed a market. We lived in dorms and apartments filled with people who would love this stuff! Together, we could make a business.
A few of us went back to Uganda the following summer and selected a group of six women to begin this adventure with. We sat with them daily, making beads and listening to their stories. We visited their homes and met their families. We laughed together, cried together, and learned from each other.
Kallie stayed in Uganda for the following year, setting up our organization and helping the women create new styles of jewelry. The other four of us began our last year of college with a new agenda, selling jewelry anywhere we could. We had no idea what we were getting ourselves into. We were a misfit group of dreamers, artists, and socialites…not business people. We didn’t know the first thing about starting a business. By day we were college students, but the evenings were filled with studying fashion, marketing, and development work. We discovered two things. Firstly, we didn’t want to be just another charity selling key chains and t-shirts. We were determined to create a fashionable product that women would buy because they actually liked it. Secondly, these women needed a lot more then a paycheck. They needed education, health care, and counseling. They needed to be cared for physically, mentally, and emotionally. They needed a way to be whole again.
We started by selling at school events, craft fairs, and home parties. We’d tell our story to anyone who would listen. Eventually we started an online store and a wholesale program. The road was rocky and the sleep was short, but five years later, we’re in over 300 stores and have shared our story with hundreds of thousands of people.
We implemented a five-year holistic development program in Uganda, where each woman receives health education, finance training, counseling, and business training. She belongs to a community where she can earn an income, be educated, and dream for her future. After five years in our program, the women graduate, leaving with an education, a career, social equity, confidence, and a voice. We now have 120 women in our program whose lives are changed. Their children’s lives are changed. Their community is changed. And we got to be a part of it!
Five years ago we were carefree 21-year-olds. Today, we have plenty to care about. We’ve learned that as consumers, every purchase we make has either a negative impact or a positive impact in the world. That’s why we’ve taken a simple product like jewelry and made it a vehicle for doing something GOOD. Our customers are changing people’s lives through their purchases. 31 Bits is part of a movement revolutionizing the way people do business. We believe businesses should be conscious of both the creator and the consumer. Through holistic care and YOUR purchase, women are being empowered to rise above poverty.   



The purpose behind this company, the amazing women they have taken into the program, and the hand made jewelry are inspiring and beautifully created.  To find out more information about 31 Bits, how you can host a house party, or how you can help go to www.31bits.com       http://31bits.com/shop/necklaces/terrazo.html    

Thank you for trusting me with your jewelry and for furthering your special cause.  Much Love!!!!

OBSESSED!!!!!!

Obsess: [uh b-ses] /əbˈsɛs/                                                                    

verb (used with object)                   

to dominate or preoccupy the thoughts, feelings, or desires; beset, trouble, or haunt persistently or abnormally:

Suspicion obsessed him.

verb (used without object)                   

to think about something unceasingly or persistently; dwell obsessively upon something.

Origin           

1495-1505; < Latin obsessus, past participle of obsidēre to occupy, frequent, besiege, equivalent to

 The true definition of "obsessing", which is exactly what I have done the past month since learning about Nena and Co.  Not only are the bags ridiculously vibrant, beautiful, and amazing, but her purpose and story and the astonishing men and women behind this company is even better.

Taken from her website www.nenaancco.com

THE "TRAJE"

Woman in Guatemala have passed down their traditional dress called traje for centuries. The tops are called huipils and the skirts are cortes. The Maya culture has used the same techniques of weaving textiles for generations and continue to do so today. The intricate brocade decor on the huipils varies slightly from village to village, but the patterns and their meanings have not changed since the classic Maya period. Not only is traje an important component of the Guatemalan culture, the tradition of weaving provides a viable income for the weavers and artisans who make these textiles to provide for their families.

THE BACKSTRAP LOOM

The art of weaving on a backstrap loom dates back to ancient Maya and has been passed down through the many generations of Guatemalan Women.  It is the process in which they create beautiful vibrant colored textiles and huipils. The weaver starts with raw cotton, which they clean, dye, and spin into thread. The thread is made into a warp and placed on the loom where she can then begin weaving. Many times intricate brocade and embroidery patterns are incorporated into the cloth. The process of weaving has changed very little over time and the techniques used today are virtually the same as they have been for hundreds of years. 

THE BAGS

WE RECYCLE! Our bags are the end product of this intricate process of creating huipils that began hundreds of years ago.  Yes, you literally took the shirt off someones back so take good care of it! Okay, I'm teasing but it really use to be some beautiful woman's shirt or huipil (see woman to the left). Maya families have transformed their traditional huipils and cortes to be the decorative exterior of our bags laced with hand cut leather to make them more durable for your everyday use. One could even go so far as to say these bags are indi-genius bags (for those of you with sense of humor) for their ability to combined an age old tradition for a fashion forward world.
Nena & Co. bags are uniquely handcrafted and capture the magic and depth of the Maya people. When you purchase our bags you're helping create jobs at home and also provide freedom from poverty for the beautiful, hardworking women of the Maya highlands. I get goosebumps just thinking about it!

GIVING BACK

Rather than just admiring the talents of these impoverished Maya families, Nena & Co. is committed to always giving back! Whether it is by providing purified filtered water to a family or helping a child get an education your purchase of a Nena & Co. bag will enable us to make a difference in someones life that is in great need. Share the journey with us by following Nena & Co.'s "Peace Pilgrim" updates and see what a difference we can make together."

On my birthday, Dave surprised me with 39 minutes (because I had turned 39) to pick out my first bag from Nena and Co.!!!  I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the style of her bags, and  I ADORE the thought behind them in sustaining families, a culture, and community through the making of these bags.  I am so very grateful for the hands that made my perfect bag, for the art form that the women and men of Guatamala are preserving, and the forward thinking of Nena and her company.  I hope my very small contribution is part of the bigger picture she is creating.  

#nenaandco  
#pylefam365 
#castingourshadow
@nenaandco  
www.nenaandco.com

My New Love!!!!

Be The Good

Mint and Arrows and Paper Gold Co.  have teamed up and launched their #savehumankindness project.  They are asking others to do one random act of kindness and share your story.  I shared mine yesterday, can't wait to hear yours!!!  Make sure you use #savehumankindness when you post on Instagram!
#castingourshadow  #pylefam365



On Instagram (check out their headbands and stationary):
@mintandarrows  @papergoldco


Website:
www.mintandarrows.etsy.com

www.etsy.com/shop/papergoldco

Casted Shadows

Dave and I are exactly one year apart (October 18th and October 25th).  With the coming and going of our 39th birthday we decided to challenge ourselves. Although the idea was Dave's, I am so excited to see what our 39th year will hold (and I will take a little credit for the follow through of his great idea)!

Here is some background:  Since I was little I had a heart for children, specifically those in need.  I couldn't stomach to watch the infomercials for World Vision, Stopping Hunger etc.  I struggled with the unfairness and inequality between me and children born in Mexico or Africa, or those born homeless in  my backyard of San Diego.  My favorite church memories are those spent giving back, or on weekend mission trips.   As an adult, but more specifically, since I had Gavin, I have struggled with wanting to find a charity, family, or specific cause that we can invest and commit ourselves to. You may wonder why I use the word "struggle" and I think it is because it is something that I truly wrestle with.  How can I look at my life and not want to give back?  How can I know with all of my being that our family is set apart, loved by God, and given more than what we need without deserving it.  I have made so many poor choices, taken so many long roads, up until becoming a mom and wife (and even then, I have been far from perfect), and I don't want the rest of my life to follow that trend.  With all of that being said, I continuously looked to Dave to come up with some genius idea for us because I just haven't found our "fit".....

The day the idea was born.....As we sat out in Temecula having a picnic, Dave brainstormed what will be the next year of our lives. We can't control others, but we are able to control our own actions, decisions, and investments. We had to decide what we wanted to invest in, specifically in regard to our time and finances.  Dave refers to this as where we will "cast our shadow".  Where will we be, who will our shadow cover, and most importantly, will they be better because of the choices Dave and I are making.  His favorite time of day are when there are long shadows.  The time of day when things slow down, become quiet, and you can truly just enjoy being where you are, where your shadow is, sooo.......

Casting our shadow in October 2014

We have decided that for our 39th year of life, we will only buy clothing, shoes accessories etc. for ourselves from companies that give back to charities, communities, foundations, countries, etc.  Obviously, we see the limitations of this so to begin with, we have not included our children, groceries, household supplies etc. (although we are going to try our best to do this as we can).  Any item we choose to buy for ourselves, we will research and make sure it comes from a charitable company.  This will be SO difficult for me, I am going to be totally honest about it.  I love to impulse shop for a cute top before our date nights, I love to buy Dave gifts after a long work week, I love to frequent TJ Max or Target (I even just got a Red Card) for house decorations,  I like to shop period.......I can still do this but will need to be more specific and intentional....

The gifts we purchase for others, well......we are going to try our best to ensure that there is a purpose behind it and as much as possible from one of the companies we meet along the way.

So, here you have it.......we are pledging that for the next year, 365 days from October 25th, 2014, we will not buy any clothing, shoe, bag, gift for ourselves that is not "charitable"

Why?  Our hope is this small effort of paying it forward, casting our shadow, both locally and globally, will inspire us to continue to do more and potentially open many more doors during the next year that we didn't even know were there.  Our raw purpose is simple....we will be better people, better parents, better family members,  better friends, better coworkers at the end of this year with softened hearts and a true passion for giving and sharing what we have been awarded in this life.   We will continue to blog along the way, share with you the companies that we have found and hope that maybe one of you will join us for a week, month or even a year in the challenge!!!  We would love to hear YOUR story too!!

With Love and Excitement,

Jen