Let's see more "Gotcha Day"s happen!

Bringing Zi Home from Stephanie Bernotas on Vimeo.

"Man has made orphanages for children, but God made the family for children."

// orphanjustice.com //

"Many children in Asia are orphaned due to deformities, diseases and disabilities.

Because of circumstances beyond their control, precious children like her are rejected, shunned, and unaccepted."

Help Them ► www.sevenly.org/GreaterCalling

Today through Sunday, your purchase of a limited edition tee from Sevenly helps give grants through Show Hope to families adopting from Asia.

What I Wore // Sevenly, Warby Parker, TOMS & No. 41

Featuring Wynne // elderadventures.blogspot.com

Wynne, why do you wear what you wear?

I absolutely love buying + wearing things that give back.  Purchase with Purpose I call it.  I think once I realized that you could both look cute/stylish AND help someone with the way you purchase, I was all in.  I've meet artisans that give their life to making the goods we wear and I KNOW what it does.  I love that with warby parker + toms they GIVE 1 when I buy 1.  I love that sevenly introduces me to a new cause/organization each week and that I can wear the shirt and think of the people they are helping.  and obviously I love no.41 as I have been to Rwanda and met and seen these girls who's lives have been changed by this company.  So really - it's two fold.  I love to wear things that look good & I love to tell the STORIES when I wear the items.  it's all about the stories! 

Shirt - Sevenly // Jeans - American Eagle Outfiters // Bag - No. 41 // Glasses - Warby Parker // Shoes - TOMS

What I Wore // Sevenly + Sweats

No reason why a day spent in jammies shouldn't be a day spent advocating for waiting children!

Sweatshirt - Sevenly // Pajama pants - Target // Tank top - Old Navy

What I Wore // Sevenly Tee

I have spoken of my love for Sevenly in other posts. I can hardly remember when I first heard about Sevenly but I know that I jumped on board pretty soon after I did. I own quite a few of their limited edition tees now but my favorite one is still my charcoal "Love the Orphan" v-neck.

This was my first or second purchase from Sevenly. The design is fantastic, the message is simple, and the fit is perfect for me. I paired it with my skinnies and my favorite accessory (a scarf!). It is great for lounging around the house or running errands (I'd wear my purple moccasin flats!), which is exactly what I did today. :)

Tee - Sevenly // Jeans - Target // Scarf - Target

Books-a-Million vs Sevenly

I can lose track of time in a book store. I like to collect books I'd like to read and carry them around while I keep browsing or pile them around me where I sit down (my apologies to the employee that has to put them all back). I was in Books-a-Million doing some serious unwinding (and thus some serious book collecting) today. After I had sat and looked through and read snippets from each of the books I had gathered I made various piles to help me determine which, if any, I would buy. I had settled on two that I was really interested in and made economical sense to buy. Meanwhile it came to mind that it was Monday which means that Sevenly.org had announced this weeks cause and limited edition tees. Naturally, I opened my browser on my iPhone and checked it out. This week the proceeds from each shirt sold will feed 21 kids who are starving in Kenya. "That's awesome!" I thought and was about to go back to my book sorting and completely forget to care about it when I was struck by my indifference. There in that moment I, who's life-hardship at present is having too many books for the minimum shelf space I have, was justifying the spending of a little money (that is truly the Lord's anyway) on something I didn't need at all when I had the opportunity and choice to use that money to feed 21 kids who are in desperate need of food. Ouch! Imagine if those 21 kids were mine, I was watching them starve and I only had $30. Do you think I would go out and buy a few more books? No way! I would buy them food. I would sell all of my other books to feed them too!
It's easy to start to feel like giving $30 is just a drop in the bucket and it won't make a difference for those in need. That's easy to think when we spend pocket change on a hamburger or a DVD. However our "pocket change" is ten times the amount poor families LIVE ON per day ($1). The fact is that little choices lead to big change.
"If you can't feed a hundred people, just feed one." // mother theresa
There in the midst of a pile of books, making the choice to spend money the Lord has given me on caring for His children instead of spending it on my fleeting enjoyment... That is leading to a big change of perspective in me and a big change in the lives of 21 precious children (that change being a chance for survival).
I'm not going to stop buying books but today in the battle of BAM vs Sevenly, Sevenly won. And I am glad.