Wardrobe Challenge Day 6

Quick pic of clouds clearing over Rainier on my way to work this morning...

Before I plunge into where I got my $1 earrings or how Roy's incessant itching is driving me up the wall, let me pause a moment and relay a few thing I heard last night on the situation in Haiti.
First, a miracle story I heard on NPR radio. A woman was visiting Haiti from Florida and was in a grocery store when the earthquake. Amazingly, most of the people in the store survived because they could eat the food off the shelves. When rescuers finally reached them and began to dig them out, you can imagine the woman's surprise when the firefighter who pulled her out was her neighbor from Florida.

Amazingly, people are still being pulled from the rubble alive. A two-month old baby was pulled from the rubble in the hillside after surviving 4 days buried. A two-month old.

Most of you have heard about the texting $10 donations to the Red Cross or other organizations. As of last night (before the Larry King show) over 13 million dollars had been raised via texting alone. That's a crazy amount of $10 texts! So for those of you who think you can't afford much, even a $10 donation is helping make a huge difference.

Here's a good article from the New York Times on Tips for Safe and Efficient Haiti Donations.

So here's today's outcome of the Wardrobe Challenge:

Yes the earrings were $1 from Fred Meyer (I think Fred Meyer...or Target...), shirt's from Express (love those bin sales), sweater from a H&M trip while I was in DC with my parents and Matt, and pants are from Limited (you should see my butt, it's spectacular).

Haha, ok just kidding about the butt part...I need more coffee...

For today's spotlight I'm highlighting World Vision. Matt and I both sponsor a family (you can do that now, how cool is that?) with them. I actually sponsor a family in Romania, which is really awesome cause their handwriting is better than the translator's and I can still semi-read Romanian (dictionary in hand)!

You can support World Vision in two ways. One, by donating to the general cause. Their staff is already established in Haiti and has begun handing out bottled water, food, blankets and health kits. Two, sponsor a child in Haiti. When the dust settles and the world has moved on to newer headlines, the country will still be in shambles with most likely more orphans than there were before. Sponsoring a child will help ensure their continued care, health and education.

Click HERE to donate to World Vision.

Clidk HERE to sponsor a child in Haiti.

The sermon on Sunday night was on James 1:19-27. The verses that stuck out to me were the two at the end:

26 If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. 27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

And I know the banner below is for Singapore but its the only one I could find that I could make work...

Wardrobe Challenge Day 5

Last night we had an awesome windstorm. Those of you who live in So Cal and know the Santa Ana winds will understand what I mean, but I've never heard anything as loud as it was last night! Near deafening! The highest recorded gust was 55 mph, and with us living on the 5th floor on a hill we felt the full brunt of that! Of course Matt slept right through it all...

Last night I watched Coco Before Chanel...she wasn't the happiest of ladies but for anyone who loves fashion and good cinematography its definitely worth your while. Anyways, whever I watch one of these fashion era movies I get inspired in my own dressing. So here's a little 21st century version of Coco's fishermen influence.

Although I doubt she had a 90 lb slobbering dog wanting to play tug-o-war with her all the time.

Today's charity spotlight goes to Hope Force International. My mom has trained and served with them, and in her words:

They have one of the best crisis counseling courses I have ever experienced. Not the pat "Christianese" answers but training on listening and asking questions and responding appropriately to bring emotional and spiritual healing while also meeting tangible needs such food, water, shelter and medical attention. It is a well rounded organization that responds to the whole person - not just spiritually and not just physically. They are centered in Nashville but have a huge presence in Orange County. They believe in preventive training - so they are ready BEFORE disaster strikes and because they are so well respected and are relatively small in comparison to the Red Cross they have been able to get into places quicker and with far less red tape. They were first responders to 911 ( where the organization had it's origins from a group of Pastors who worked directly at ground zero), at Katrina, the Tsunami and countless other natural and man made disasters around the world.



To donate to Hope Force International, click HERE.If there's a charity or organization that you support and want recognized give me a shout!

Also, on a much lighter and more frivilous note, you can place your vote on whether or not you think I should include jewelry in this challenge by clicking HERE and voting on the left hand column.

Wardrobe Challenge Day 4

Today I lucked out because we spent most of the day lounging around in our pajamas. When evening came, however, it became clear that pajamas just wouldn't do for church or a going away party at an Irish pub for two of Matt's coworkers.

Dressing for going out with REI people is a bit tricky. You see, they, like Matt, live most of their lives in REI gear. When Matt wears the occasional button up shirt to work he's teased to no end. On Friday he got a haircut, wore his new jeans and shirt and had 5 people ask him if he'd had a "makeover."

Thus I donned my faithful North Face pants and an Old Navy thermal. Ironically the last time I went to Old Navy I must have tried on 15 long sleeved shirts but they all fit so awkwardly! Tight arms and room enough in the stomach to have been 7 months pregnant! Finally I found this lovely teal number that had some shape to it. You can imagine my shock, however, when I got home and saw the tag "Maternity" on it. Oh well.



We went to church then were off to Kirkland (yes, like the Costco brand...that's where it started) to go to Wild Rovers Pub. We got there and I did my best to be social though in those situations I can't think of a thing to say and can't hear in a pub atmosphere anyways so I spend an hour and a half smiling pleasantly and trying not to look too awkward. Funny thing, though, is out me in charge of a party and I'm the social butterfly. Mental block, I guess.

That's all for Day Four!

Wardrobe Challenge Day 3

Ah the weekend. Matt and I had a date to go to the Licensing Dept and get our Washington driver's licenses (finally). So it was time for my fugly jeans (so I don't have to wear them to work) and a cute top to make up for it! Here then is the daily picture taken as a snapshot of what I hoped my Washington license to be...

Thanks mom, for the fabulous indie shirt and slouch brown boots for Christmas! Love 'em! And earrings are from...I don't even remember where. I got them in high school...that's all I remember about that.

And don't forget to cast your vote on whether or not you think I should include jewelry in the challenge!

Only when we finally drove all the way up to Lynnwood...45 minutes going 30 mph...we found that...

it was closed. On Saturday...for MLK Day. Think they should have put that on their website? I do.

Well, as Matt put it, "The worst thing that happened was we got to spend more time together."

We then headed over to the mall to find a 2010 planner when I spotted a Nordstrom Rack across the street.

Now before you get all uppity, I know I started this whole thing to go through my wardrobe completely but I never set any rules on buying new clothes! That being said I did find two pairs of jeans for super cheap that both actually fit me without looking like a soccer mom or a ghetto fabulous chica and I did purchase them.

This challenge wasn't meant to guilt anyone into never buying anything or doling out tons of money to charities. It was meant to make me more aware of what I have versus what many people don't, and put money aside towards a cause while hopefully bringing your attention to it as well. If you think I've abandoned the cause by buying jeans I'm sorry.

Hopefully, though, you'll forgive my lapse of strength and my need for the staple of American wear.

That being said, the charity spotlight today goes to Compassion International. My Aunt Wendy and my best friend Charissa both sponsor children through Compassion and reminded me right away to mention this great organization.

Compassion describes itself thus:

Compassion International exists as a Christian child advocacy ministry that releases children from spiritual, economic, social and physical poverty and enables them to become responsible, fulfilled Christian adults.

Known primarily for their ministry of sponsoring individual children, Compassion also extends aid and relief to disaster regions like Haiti. With personnel already on the ground they are able to coordinate efforts quickly and efficiently. When I was looking them up on Charity Navigator (they have 4 stars, by the way), I saw a news article from the Denver Post that one of their contractors is still missing.

To read about the latest happenings in Haiti with Compassion you can read their Haiti blog.

To donate to Compassion International, click Here.

Haiti Earthquake

Wardrobe Challenge Day 2

Today dawned cold and very very rainy. I resisted the urge to pull on my comfy sweater and one of two pairs of jeans I own and instead put on what I had laid out the night before instead.



As Tim Gunn said (or maybe it was What Not To Wear...one of those shows), it takes just as much time to pull on a sweater and jeans as it does a nice shirt and pair of slacks. And if they fit right you'll still be comfortable. And ya know, I actually am.



Here's Day 2. Right before Matt snapped the picture I was approached by Mr. Pet-Me-NOW-please so you get to see him too


Here, folks, is the shirt that started this whole thing. The $15 Express shirt, plus coincidentally pants from Express and my Nine West boots Matt got me for Christmas. I could run a marathon in these things.


On Haiti: Here's two charities two of my friends have donated to already

Yele--an organization started by Wyclef Jean. Their latest post reads:


Yéle Haiti has pulled together a group of like minded organizations and first responders in order to help coordinate the delivery of emergency services and materials needed by victims of the earthquake in Haiti. Each or the organizations will undertake their own fundraising and on-the-ground operations, but have agreed to share resources, collaborate when it makes sense and avoid duplication.


The members of this new Haiti Earthquake Alliance are:


Yéle Haiti
AmeriCares
Friends of the World Food Program
ONExONE Foundation
Pan American Development Foundation
Airline Ambassadors
The Belinda Stronach Foundation


Just formed in the last day, the Alliance has already pulled together four airlifts of medical supplies, food and other emergency supplies – along with teams of doctors. These airlifts will go out beginning Saturday.

Click Here to donate to Yele

Thanks for the info, Nadine.


And Jill donated to Samaritan's Purse. Many of you probably know them from Operation Christmas Child where kids receive a packed shoebox for Christmas, but they are providing assistance and relief in Haiti right now, as well.


Click Here to donate to Samaritan's Purse


Keep up the good work, people!

Wardrobe Challenge Day 1

And so it begins.



Challenge: go as long as I can without duplicating an outfit.

Pants, skirts and sweaters I can cycle through, but I must wear them all before I cycle through again. Tops and dresses I can only wear once.



Should I make this harder on myself and try not to wear the same piece of jewelry or an accessory twice? Place your vote.


Here, for your viewing pleasure (cause I'm so sure it is), is a peek at my wardrobe.

Left side of the closet has sweaters, slacks, skirts and dresses




Right side of the closet has shirts, blouses, scarves and jewelry.

And both sides have shoes.

I know, mock if you will.

And here is Outfit Day 1:

Hat and necklace and shirt from Target. Jean jacket I stole from my mom while I was in high school. Pants from Limited cause they're one of the few places that makes pants that actually fit me and I nearly cried when they stopped making jeans of the same fit. Shoes are leopard print ballet slippers from a little store in Chico.

Oh, and my new eco cup--a porcelin and silicone replica of the kinda of carryout cups you get at Starbucks. Minus the plastic/cardboard taste and a plus for not having to throw it away when you're done.

I added it up this morning and I should be able to go 65 days without repeating an outfit. Add that to the $15 I'm going to be donating towards the Red Cross and while that may not make even a tiny dent in the massive recovery in Haiti, hopefully it will help.

If you want to join for today, you can send a $10 Donation by Texting ‘Haiti’ to 90999. If you are skeptical you can check their website and donate there, on the phone, or the old fashioned way by mailing a check.

The Challenge...of a different sort

Tonight I went shopping for jeans and I came home convinced my body is an anomaly of societal norms. There are just flat out no jeans that fit me and don't look like something a ghetto hoochie mama would wear. I did, however, find a new top that was on clearance.

I came home and put my new shirt in my closet and gazed at my abundance of clothes. Now, for the "typical" woman I probably don't have as many clothes. In fact, a few months ago while doing laundry I was amazed at how many more shirts I was hanging for Matt than myself and I added them up. I own less shirts than Matt. Dresses are a different story...but I'm getting off topic.

I have more than enough things to clothe my body with, regardless of whether or not I have more than one flattering pair of jeans. I thought, why don't I see how long I can go without wearing the same thing twice? Pants I'll have to duplicate or I'll get arrested for indecent exposure, but I'll make myself cycle through all the pants, trousers, skirts and dresses I own before I repeat them. Shoes will definitely have to repeat, but a pair of leopard ballet flats goes a long way in making an outfit. But tops I'll only wear once.

And then I had another thought. Just an hour ago on the news they were covering the Haiti disaster. A woman was sitting outside a hospital and showed the camera her leg. Her femur was clearly fractured though it had not broken the skin, and she had been waiting for over a day to get into the hospital. I have so much more than 99% of the people in the world. I bought my new shirt tonight for $15 at Express. Then I thought:

What difference could I make by donating $15 to a nonprofit that assists in Haiti for each day I'm able to wear something I already own?

I did a little research on Charity Navigator--a website that rates charities. In their words:

We rate charities by evaluating two broad areas of financial health, their organizational efficiency and their organizational capacity. We use a set of financial ratios or performance categories to rate each of these two areas, and we issue an overall rating that combines the charity's performance in both areas.

If you go to their home page http://www.charitynavigator.org, there is a section on the recent Haitian crisis and a list of top rated charities that help that area. I'm still not sure which exact charity to donate to...for now it will probably be the Red Cross. From what I've heard from my mom who's worked with them a lot they're a great organization.

So now as I come to the end of this post and the end of my day in which I should have gone to bed hours ago, I challenge you to look in your closet. If you can go longer than a week without repeating an outfit then consider joining me in donating to a nonprofit during this challenge. Heck you may even want to try the challenge yourself.

And no ideas are ever truly original...after I thought about wearing all my clothes I remembered The Uniform Project and her mission to raise money to educate kids in India. Check out her site--she has an even harder challenge to wear the same exact dress every day for a year! Its impressive!

And now I'm going to bed. Stay tuned for the first day of the challenge, and perhaps a peek into my closet and of things to come...

Any suggestions for a name for this Challenge? Rock Your Wardrobe? No...too reminiscent of election '08. Wearing is Caring? Nah, too preschool. All You Can Wear? Hm, that makes me want to sidle up to a buffet....I'll think of something later....