hello lovelies!
today i want to introduce to you something we call the fair dare. i first tried it last summer, we all revisited it this summer, and would like to carry it through this fall... and we'd love for you to join us this season!

first of all, what is the fair dare? to give you the answer, i really need to back up. when i was about thirteen, we found an article about a little girl named Dolly. Dolly was a factory worker slave for a clothing company that paid her basically nothing for her obscene hours of work. she lived in a tiny rented room with eight other women. this story haunted me for several reasons: Dolly was making clothing that i bought. she was my age. she led a life no one should have to lead. (i tried to find the article for you, but instead of finding the article, i found a new one that revealed that she is no longer a factory worker and is instead attending school!)

although i knew about this, i can't say it completely changed my life. what ultimately changed my decision-making was a night last spring, driving home from work with jane. before this, she had been educating herself and then educating me through our conversations. i can't say i changed too much. the stories made me ache, but when i came home from the mall with forever 21 jewelry, i knew what she was thinking. jane has never been mean about it; she has always been gentle. she wanted me to be educated about who i was supporting. this night was different. she told me about a video she had watched about a little boy in a factory. they were essentially slaves. if they cried or simply yawned, oily cloth would be stuffed into their mouths and they would be beaten with rubber tubes. these boys were forced to work 28 consecutive hours. i remember driving home in the dark, tearing up and feeling so angry and frustrated. 

why do people have to do this to other people? (why do i let it happen?)
why does this go on? (why do i keep supporting it with my purchases?)
what am i supposed to do about it? (well... stop buying sweatshop made clothes, thus stop supporting it?)
but it's too hard, i thought…and sometimes still think.  when i could make an item or thrift it, i think: it takes too much time and effort for me. (but i know who is taking too much time and effort to make it for me.)
what am i supposed to say to that? (that oh well, it's their problem? that i am the master/consumer they are serving?)
i shot the dare out of my mouth. i told my mom and shrugged angrily, that for one season, that summer, i wouldn't buy clothing made in sweatshops.

because every buy is a vote, a vote to tell someone to keep doing what you're doing. (also here)

the dare started with anger and frustration. (it takes a certain amount of anger and frustration to change things.) it began because i did not want to do it. i started the dare because i wanted to prove to myself that yes, i can do it, and yes, i can still look pretty darn good. so one night, on a whim, in a dare to myself, i said that i wouldn't buy anything new made by slaves/sweatshops that summer.

a dare.
i wanted to prove to myself that it wasn't hopeless. i learned that if you really care about something or someone, you'll do something to change it, even if you don't really want to.

to be honest, this dare scared and daunted me. what made me the most frustrated was that i shouldn't have to dare myself. i should see a problem that hurts other people and want to care for them and change it- especially because it's my-our- problem to fix. i guess there's a question i needed to answer. i care about people. i care about clothes. but which one do i care about more?

what i found that summer, is that this dare is fun, it's a really fun challenge. it makes my purchases valuable and exciting. they might take a little bit more time and effort, but that's what makes them something i actually love and value, instead of something i just kinda sorta like. it also changed the way i think about people. i feel much more active in my beliefs. i am more aware and now i like discussing world issues.

so in reality, making this dare has made me care about people more than clothes.  it has also made me care about my clothes a lot more. it has shown me that it is so possible to have cool clothes that hurt no one in the process of making and buying them.

i've done this for two summers and i want to get a tiny bit more serious and do it for another season. are you in for just one season, to prove to yourself that you can do it, that you can fight against slavery and poor work conditions? one season. three months. not a big deal. if more people do this, we can actually change things! 

if you would like more education on this, start with these two short articles: six things you should know about your clothes and five things you didn't know about your clothes . you will notice that slavery is not the only damage that fast fashion does. you'll learn about chemicals and the environment. doing this one thing this season could affect all of that! pretty amazing!

let's fight slavery and look good doing it!  are you in?  (next we'll talk about how to take on this dare in a way that feels manageable yet somewhat challenging for you.)

x,
jo

jane:  the artisan soul by raphael mcmanus…  this is my favorite book of the summer- maybe of the year!  i started reading it in a coffee shop, without my notebook and had to grab napkins to scribble notes onto.  i found the idea of my life being my creative canvas so inspiring.  i actually found the courage to start this journal after reading this book and subsequently writing…'if my inner voice is responding to the voice of God, i will find my voice and i will not be ashamed!  find strength in this!'  not that i have that all figured out yet.  :)  i highly recommend this book!

jo:  steal like and artist by austin kleon… this book is so inspirational. it feels personal and truly creative, in an easy, everyday kind of way. it made me feel like 'yes! i can always be creative! anyone can be creative! i can find ideas and do things!' steal like an artist makes creativity seem very relaxed, fun, and something that can become a way of life... and i would really love to live that type of life.

julia:  soul surfer:: clash by rick bundschuh and inspired by bethany hamilton…this book is really good.  it's fiction mostly, but the author writes about what he thinks bethany would say and do.  when a new girl comes to bethany's hometown, bethany is not sure she wants to know this girl, because she over hears her say mean things to her mom.  the new girl, jenna, sees bethany and her friends together and finds herself wishing she could be with them.  bethany and her friends aren't so sure about jenna, but when they find out more about her. the girls invite jenna into their group.

check these out at your local library!

what are you reading?

love, jane + jo + julia

it's that glorious time of year when we are lucky enough to be bringing in lots of tomatoes from the garden every day or two!  we love to make this sauce to eat on pasta or pizza.

  

easy peasy pasta/pizza sauce

tomatoes + onion to taste (+garlic, if you'd like)…blend chunkily (i also add peppers-spicy or not, if i have them)
pour into pot over medium heat until it boils down to desired consistency (probably in the neighborhood of 40 minutes) stirring periodically (sometimes i add a chopped zucchini)
add salt + pepper flakes (if needed) + chopped herbs, if you like

the great flavor of fresh tomatoes is intensified in the boiling down, and this sauce is so yummy!!



i really want to save some of this goodness for the months ahead.  i'm not into canning, so this is what i've come up with.  i tested it out last year and it worked great, so i thought i'd share.  you can freeze whole tomatoes- yup!  put them into freezer bags…done!  you can use them in sauces and salsa for months.  i also froze some salsa and pasta/pizza sauce in jars like these above for quicker meals.  i was so thankful for those jars each time i used them!  what i found was that the seasoning flavors were somewhat lost, so this year i'm going to just make straight tomato sauce and freeze that, adding flavors later.  so that freezer sauce goes like this...i put the tomatoes in the blender (no need to remove skins), blend chunkily, heat over medium heat to my desired consistency, pour into jars, cool and freeze.  when i want a quicker dinner i will add basil, pepper flakes, salt and onion for pasta or pizza sauce.  if we want salsa, i'll add cilantro, pepper flakes, salt, onion and lime. 

hope you are enjoying fresh, local produce right now!!

love, jane

as i've learned more about where the average clothing in american shops comes from, i've struggled with the actions i can take to change it.  yes, i am only one consumer.  if i focus on this thought... one person can't change the fact that some garment workers are working in terrible conditions far away... i will become complacent and do nothing.

every purchase tells someone somewhere, "keep doing what you are doing".  

i want my purchases to be sending my messages…"i value and support what you are doing!  keep it up!"

since deciding to go simple in my closet, i've learned some things.

i really feel like a simple wardrobe is a foundation for change..mostly in me, but also hopefully, in the world.

having a small number of items in my closet and knowing that they are enough has enabled me to:

1.  need and want less, and as a result consume less

2.  have the time and space to think about my purchases carefully, because there aren't many

3.  have a bit more time to make my own clothing or thrift, because i don't need many new items

4.  have a bit more money to support independent makers, again because i don't need many items

5.  have a little more money to buy organic, local, whole food, because i am spending less on clothing

i know that not buying mass produced clothing may not provide more food, money or employment for the suffering workers overseas immediately, but i hope that enough of us not buying cheap clothing and supporting ethical companies will convince fast fashion companies that they are not providing what consumers want.  

ann voskamp says, "be different and know everything you do matters. it’s what the Christ followers know: one man with God can change a culture. God didn’t put people in your path mostly for your convenience; He put you there for theirs. loving the poor will make you rich, i promise." 

and for a little more:  this.  i love when the author, katrina rodabaugh says, As one of my environmental studies professors in college told me, "Focus on what you can do to make a difference, not on what you can't."

i do have a voice.  and so do you. 

let's make them heard!

love, jane

hey there!
on Easter i received one of my favorite zines from jane. night home is a zine by becca stadtlander, who happens to be one of my favorite artists.

night home is an art zine inspired by night. i am enchanted by the mysterious black and white paintings, featuring moon phases, an abandoned home, dancers of times past, plants, and other living creatures.

i think night home has a perfect balance of creepiness and beauty....

this is by far my favorite art zine that i own. so happy jane got it for me! if you like what you see here, get your own copy over at little otsu and perhaps take a peek at becca's etsy for more beautiful prints and cards.
do you have a favorite zine? 
xxx,
jo





(as in all of our others, this is a non sponsored post. all opinions are my own.)

so you've got the desire for a simple wardrobe?  yay!  i thought i'd share the way i like to make it work- whether i'm considering my closet or julia's.  i do this each season- for me that is mostly cold weather and warm weather.  the in-between times can pull a bit from both seasons and get the job done just right.    here's what i did for this warm weather season.

focus::  i think carefully through the way i want to dress.  
-what clothes i actually wear (i mostly wear casual comfortable clothing)
-what fits my lifestyle (i used to wear a lot of dresses, but then i started babysitting a little one and spent so much time on the floor that i knew i would wear shorts most often)
-my style- i have the most fun with this!  i collect thoughts and inspiration on pintrest, so when it comes time to wardrobe plan, i know what i like.  i cull my collections and try to see the patterns of what i like, so i don't feel too scattered about my style.  i think about the silhouettes i like and narrow down a color palette (see lists below). (if you like lots of color, your color palette could be something like dark denim + bright color.  the idea is just focus with a simple wardrobe.)
-mixability-you know what i mean.  (i don't have as much an issue with it in the summer…denim shorts pretty much go with any top and dresses, well…they match my sandals.)  :)

sort::   i always sort our clothing by season.  at the end of each season i pack up everything i want to keep for the next season.  (we pack our out of season clothing in our carry-on suitcases, since we don't use them often).  
-first i need to see what i have.  i get it all out and look at every item one by one. 
-make piles…keep and donate/sell 
there are different guidelines for letting it go…like... if you haven't worn it in a certain period of time, if there are still tags attached, if it's not flattering, not the right size, doesn't fit into your newly focused style- you decide.  i would say, at this point, don't use this as an excuse to get rid of everything and buy a whole new wardrobe... because then you aren't breaking your buying cycle at all.  do what you need to do, but just know... you are still going to have to deal with everything you keep.  it's not just going back in the closet yet.   

list::  so now we've got our keep pile.  i like lists.  i use my lists as a sort of worksheet/record for the entire season.  here are my summer lists…(i underlined them so you can pick them all out.)
categories:
-tops
-dresses
-shorts
-pants
-shoes
-sweaters
i write every item i have in each of these categories.  now i can see where i'm heavy and where i'm light.  you might realize you don't need 24 shirts, so you can add some to the donate/sell pile.  just don't start shopping yet!  

silhouettes:
-shift dress + sandals
-loose top + shorts + sandals

color palette:
-denim
-white/cream
-tan
-touches of mexican color (because i like vintage mexican tops and dresses)

once i know how i want to dress, i can go back to my itemized list to see where i might need something and where some other things might be unnecessary (i move those to the donate/sell pile).  in order to keep my wardrobe simple, i like to think about my perfect number of items in each category.  considering my laundry schedule and because i've been doing this for a few summers, i know that i like to have around: 
8-10 tops
2-3 shorts
2-3 dresses
i don't really wear pants in the summer
shoes- sandals, flipflops, athletic shoes
a sweater and a sweatshirt
i also bought a sunhat and a skirt this summer, so i added those.

shopping you can feel good about::  i spend time thinking about what things i might need and list them under the...
maybe list:  
-hat (got this one)
-silk pants (didn't buy these)
-2 dresses (found these)
hopefully that list isn't too big, so i can be mindful in my choices of what to buy.  since i only need a few items i can spend a little more money to support an independent maker or a little more time to make something myself.    

i'm also interested in keeping track of my spending, so i keep a list.  all season i try to keep my lists up to date.  i cross things off my lists if i return them, find a new home for them or change my mind about something.  at the end of the season i like to go through one more time and make sure everything is accurate and also decide what my ideal (least amount, for me) number of items in each category would be.  now i can use these lists next year as a starting point.

my simple wardrobe is a small set of clothing that fits me, my style and my life.  i really like everything in it and love the feeling of enough!

for further inspiration:  project 333

hope this helps! 
                                           
i'd love to hear about your simple wardrobe plans and experiences!
 
love, jane

jane:  wear no evil by greta eagan…this is a book i've been waiting for!  i have read about where and how our clothing is now made, but i've been waiting for a book to give me some options about what to do with that knowledge…moving ahead.  it can be quite paralyzing when you wear out something and you just don't exactly know what the best ethical options are to replace it.  this book gives charts for various categories, like sweaters, sneakers, bras and undies, etc. and lists some brands and how they stack up on the various issues.  of course, we hope that there will be more and more brands jumping into this pool and this is no exhaustive list, but it gave me a few more places to look for fair wear.  i feel like i'll have some choices, when i need them. 

jo:  fangirl by rainbow rowell. . . as i begin college on monday, i turned to one of my favorite freshman-in-college books- fangirl. it tells the story of cath, as she nervously goes to college, struggles with being more distant from her twin sister, and navigates schoolwork, a seemingly crazy roommate, and writing her magical fan fiction. i love rereading this book!


julia:  main street: september surprise by ann m. martin. . .I'm just starting this book and I'm excited because i just finished the fifth book.  main street is a book series of ten books and september surprises is the sixth one.  i really like the main street books.  they're about two young sisters named flora and ruby .  they live with their grandma, who partly owns a sewing store.  nicki and olivia are the sisters' friends and the four girls have adventures together.

extra goodness:  shadow chasers by elly mackay…we've been following elly mackay's work for a long time, so we have to check out any new book that comes from her!  this is a sweet bedtime picture book filled with her incredible lit artwork.  enchanting!

check them out at your library!

what are you reading?

love, 
jane + jo + julia