My Favorite Christmas Traditions with #WarbyHoliday

Everyone has a few Christmas traditions that they continually do. I have a few that I love and I thought that I would share them with you.

1. Like I mentioned here, every year after Thanksgiving, I start to read the books in the Christmas Hope series by Donna VanLiere. I always enjoy reading the inspiring stories of love, hope, and joy. I am constantly crying or laughing along with the characters. I also like to sit with a cup of tea or hot cocoa and curl up with these books. 

2. Every year, I go Black Friday shopping with my mom and sister. We also decorate the house for Christmas on the Friday after Thanksgiving. After Thanksgiving ends, that is when all the Christmas stuff starts for me.

3. On Christmas Eve or the 23rd every year, (my mom started this when I was a kid) we have a Happy Birthday Jesus party where we bake tons of sweets usually consisting of sugar cookies, peppermint cookies, and other types of candies.

4. Usually we watch Polar Express. It really isn't Christmas until Polar Express and How the Grinch Stole Christmas are watched.

5. We always drive around and look at Christmas lights. Most of the time, we make and bring milkshakes and wear PJ's and cuddle up with blankets in the car.

6. We always read the Christmas story on Christmas morning. I love that we do this first because it sets the tone for the whole day. Christmas is all about Jesus' birth.

7. Last but not least, we make and decorate gingerbread houses each year.

Warby Parker, an eyeglasses and sunglasses company that seeks to offer designer eyewear at great prices, reached out to me and asked me to share some of my favorite Winter activities along with a pair of Warby Parker frames that I would wear for these winter activities. 

Since I don't wear eyeglasses, I picked these adorable sunglasses:

I love the tortoise shell and the golden color. They are super pretty and would go with pretty much anything. I also love the aviator look which would fit anybody's face shape.

Warby Parker strives to keep their prices low. They also have a super neat home try-on plan. This was on their website: "By circumventing traditional channels, designing glasses in-house, and engaging with customers directly, we’re able to provide higher-quality, better-looking prescription eyewear at a fraction of the going price.

We believe that buying glasses should be easy and fun. It should leave you happy and good-looking, with money in your pocket.

We also believe that everyone has the right to see.

Almost one billion people worldwide lack access to glasses, which means that 15% of the world’s population cannot effectively learn or work. To help address this problem, Warby Parker partners with non-profits like VisionSpring to ensure that for every pair of glasses sold, a pair is distributed to someone in need."

The fact that they give glasses to those in need makes buying from them even better. :)

What do you think?

See where I link up here.

High Five for Friday

Happy Friday! We made it to the weekend! Keep reading to see the five high points of my week:

1. On Saturday, I went shopping and added another dress to my collection. This swing dress is probably my favorite dress so far.

Sorry about the bad quality!

2. On Sunday, my church choir had their Christmas Cantata that I was a part of. It was fun, and I think we did a great job, if I do say so myself. :)

3. Monday, I posted about money and donating to Dressember. I really poured my heart out in that post, so I encourage you to read it. You can do that here. 

4. On Tuesday, I got the opportunity to go to the Operation Christmas Child Processing Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. It was really great to get to volunteer there. I loved the emphasis on Jesus that everyone had. They talked about scripture, and prayed over us and the shoeboxes multiple times while we were there. I also posted this post about trafficking.

5. On Thursday, I posted this post full of gifts that give back. That means that when each of the gifts are purchased, a portion of the profits go to charities. You can view the full post here and see the gift guide below.

Also, I have four Christmas parties over the weekend. I am so glad it's Christmas!

How was your week?

See where I link up here.

Gift Guide: 10 Gifts that Give Back

Happy Thursday! I always enjoy it when I see companies that give a portion of their profits to charities or other non-profit organizations. Today, I have compiled a gift guide full of gifts that give back, meaning that when the gift is bought, a portion of the profits go to support non-profits.

1. Elegantees Top
This top is gorgeous! I love its beautiful grey color and its ruffled hem.You can't really tell in the picture, but it is also a high-low hem which I love. Elegantees, the shop that this top is from, hires women to make these shirts and dresses. These women have been recently freed from trafficking in Nepal. So, each article of clothing is handmade by a Nepali women. How cool is that?! Also, you can use my coupon code "BowsandClothes" to get 10% off of every purchase + they offer free shipping on orders $75+. 

2. Colorblock Leaf Earrings from Noonday Collection
These earrings are so cute! I love the colorblock and the wood-like leaf. These are also fairly cheap at only $30. Noonday Collection partners with artisan entrepreneurs to make a difference in impoverished communities. By developing artisan businesses through fair trade, they empower them to grow and to create dignified jobs for people who need them. They also support adoption.

3. The Giving Keys Necklace
This necklace is so pretty and dainty. I love how you can also customize the necklace with a word of your choice engraved onto the key. The Giving Keys employs the homeless. The homeless actually get to make these beautiful and unique necklaces. 

4. Crossbody Clutch Purse from Estrella de Mar
This clutch is so unique, natural, and can also be worn as a crossbody purse and a wristlet. This is what Estrella de Mar is about: "Our business provides financial empowerment through dignified employment. We chose worker-owned women's weaving cooperatives and small family businesses to be our producers because they share our commitment to ethical, sustainable production practices and high-quality results. We know that empowered women are the key to transforming their communities and ending the generational cycle of poverty. Additionally, we have partnered with local Guatemalan non-profits to increase access to healthcare in rural communities and support education and mentorship for Mayan girls." (source)

5. Sseko Coral Flats
How cute are these flats?! The coral color is so bright and fun. Sseko is a company that employs young girls who have not gotten a college education. These girls make their products and the girls end up getting to go to college and pursue a higher education. This was on their website and it explains the impact that buying this pair of shoes can have: "The Sseko Ballet Flat is crafted from Ethiopian sheepskin sourced from local Ethiopian farmers. These shoes are made at one of the oldest Ethiopian-owned shoe factories in the country. In addition to providing jobs and contrubuting to the economic development of the region, 10% of the profits of these shoes will go directly towards the Sseko Scholarship Fund. This fund enables bright young women in East Africa to continue their university degrees and become leaders in their communites. Every Sseko Has A Story."

6. Beautiful Burgundy Bracelet from 31Bits
This bracelet is made with a 14-karat gold filled chain and tiny, handcrafted paper beads. 31Bits is a company that hires Ugandan women to make beads out of recycled paper and handcraft the jewelry. They then sell it and if I am not mistaken, most, if not all, of the profits go to these women.

7. Lace Dress
How unbelievably gorgeous is this dress?! I am so in love with it! I mean lace, burgundy, fit and flare, scooped back, how could you not be in love? Mata Traders, the company that sells this dress, is a design driven, fair trade brand helping to end global poverty and inspire ethical companies and consumers to change the fashion industry. (source) The products are made by Indian and Nepali people. 

8. Bird + Stone Necklace
According to their website, "15% of net profits from this bracelet will fund microloans and financial training for widowed women rebuilding their lives through entrepreneurship in villages outside of Kitale, Kenya through our partnership with the Sisi Fund. With each purchase, you help empower women in the developing world to become independent entrepreneurs who can support their families, fight poverty, and end the cycle of aid.

This necklace is made with recycled materials: the green and blue beads are handmade from crushed recycled glass bottles." How neat is that?!

9. Infinity Scarf
From their website, "this awesome scarf was hand-crocheted with love in Nairobi, Kenya and is providing a living wage for the women who made it. But it doesn't stop there. We take part of the profits from this scarf and provide funds for high school scholarships to children living in one of the world's largest slums."

10. Sweatshirt from Garment Collective
This sweatshirt is so amazing! I love its beautiful meaning. The story behind The Garment Collective is too lengthy to post here, but you can read all about it here.

What do you think about these gifts?

Another way that you can give back this Christmas is by donating to Dressember. Dressember partners with the International Justice Mission to free women and children from trafficking. I encourage you to prayerfully consider donating which you can do here. It is fast, easy, and secure.

See where I link up here.

Dressember Day 15: Maxi Dresses + 7 Fascinating and Infuriating Facts about Trafficking

Happy Tuesday! It is Day 15 of Dressember! We are halfway there! Today, I have for you two new maxi dress + button down outfits and seven fascinating and infuriating facts about trafficking.

1. Colorful + Chambray

Outfit details: 

Maxi: Oakleigh Rose (similar, similar)

Top: Old Navy (exact, similar)

Flats: Target (similar, similar)

Bracelet: Wal-Mart (similar, similar)

This outfit is probably the most comfortable outfit that I have ever worn. I've worn this look three times already and I just came up with it last week. I love the way that the chambray shirt looks with this colorful maxi. Also, I like the way that I wore this chambray because I usually wear it tied like the outfit below.

2. Stripes + Flowers

Outfit details: 

Dress: Kohl's (similar, similar)

Top c/o Brandzaffair

Flats: Target (similar, similar)

Bracelet: Wal-Mart (similar, similar)

I love this outfit because it is so casual. I like it's looseness and ability to be worn on many occasions. This top is super cute and comfy and can be worn many ways.

Seven Fascinating and Infuriating Facts about Trafficking

1. There are an estimated 27 million slaves in the world today. That’s the highest recorded number of slaves in history!

2. The average cost of a slave around the world is $90.

3. Human trafficking is the largest human rights violation in the history of mankind.

4. Human trafficking is the second largest criminal enterprise in the world.

5. The United States is one of the top three destination points for trafficked victims. California, New York, Texas and Nevada are the top destination states within the country.

6. The average age of a young woman being trafficked is 12–14 years old.

7. An estimated 13 million children are enslaved around the world today, which is nearly half of all trafficking victims in the world.

(source)

If these facts don't make you sick, I don't know anything. How can this be changed? These women and need you! You, yes YOU, can share these facts and have serious conversations with others. Also, you can donate to change that here.

What do you think?

See where I link up here.

Dressember Day 14: Simple Holiday Style + a Chat about Money

Happy Monday! I hope that your weekend went well. Mine was lovely. Today is day 14 of Dressember! Almost halfway there! I can't believe it! Today's post is about simple outfits that are perfect for any holiday party:

1. Black and Red

Outfit details: 

Dress: Kohl's (similar, similar)

Sweater: Kohl's (similar, similar)

Necklace: (similar, similar)

Flats: Target (similar, similar)

This outfit is super comfortable and that is one of the main reasons that I love it. Also, it is simple, but still really cute. Easily, this outfit can be worn to any holiday party because it is in between casual and fancy.

2. A Little Sparkle

Outfit details: 

Dress: Old Navy (similar, similar)

Necklace: Claire's (similar, similar)

Bracelet: Hobby Lobby (similar, similar)

Ring (similar, similar)

Flats: Target (similar, similar)

I love this outfit because the sparkle makes it feel so fancy and fun. It would be a wonderful outfit for a holiday party because of its beautiful sparkle. 

Both of these outfits are super cute and comfortable. They would be lovelyoptions for those hard-to-decide-what-to-wear holiday parties.

This month, I am participating in Dressember. Dressember is a collaborative movement where women take on the challenge of wearing dresses for the 31 days of December to advocate and raise awareness for sex trafficking. I have made a goal to raise $500. I am not very near that goal yet, but there is still hope!

It has been really difficult this Dressember because I am constantly  dwelling on the fact that I may not meet my $500 goal. I read a story the other day of a woman who was participating in Dressember as well. She lives in a country where there is deep poverty and money shortages. She kind of put everything in perspective for me. She had to remember, as do I, that yes, raising money is good and beneficial, but you may not meet your goal. And that's okay. You don't have to meet your money goal. The point of Dressember is to raise awareness, then money may come as a result. So, I am not going to focus on money. Because money is not that important. If I don't meet your goal, oh well! At least I have been advocating by telling people about it.

So, I am not going to push you to donate. I want you to donate, IF that is what you feel God telling you. If you feel that you need to donate to an amazing cause that frees women and children from sex slavery, then do it. But, if not, don't. Either way, I encourage you to talk to others about trafficking and the fact that there are more slaves now than there have been before. Have difficult conversations, and tell people. Because that's what makes a difference.

If you would like to donate, you can do that here. Also, if you would like to learn more about Dressember, you can here. Thanks for reading my rambles. :)

See where I link up here.

High Five for Friday!

Happy Friday! How was your week? Mine was great! Keep reading to learn the five high points of my week:

1. I am so excited that it is the Christmas season! It's hard to believe that Christmas is almost here again! To me, it doesn't really feel like Christmastime yet. That being said, I have already decorated, bought all of my Christmas presents, and have been doing Advent devotions, but none of those things seem to really make it fell like Christmas. Oh, well! Hopefully it'll start feeling like Christmas soon. You can learn about one of my Christmas traditions here.

2. Since it is now Dressember, I have moved my outfit posts to Monday's and Tuesday's. Also, each outfit post will contain two outfits instead of just one, and each post will be themed. On Monday, the theme was jean jackets, and you can check out that post here. On Tuesday, the post was themed 'a Little Edge' because each outfit had a little bit of edge. That post can be seen here. 

Also, I encourage you to prayerfully consider donating to Dressember. "Dressember uses fashion to advocate for women who've been exploited for their femininity. As women take on the creative challenge of wearing a dress for the 31 days of December, they are advocating for the inherent dignity of all women." (source) There are women everywhere who are being abused. As a matter of fact, many of these women and girls are US citizens. There are more slaves in the world now than there ever were before. According to the U.S. State Department, 600,000 to 800,000 people are trafficked across international borders every year, of which 80% are female and half are children. It takes people like you and me to change that. Please consider donating to help these women and children. Donating is fast easy and secure. You can donate here.

3. On Wednesday, a couple of my friends and I decided to try out Sharpie tie-dyeing. It turned out pretty well. I do have to say that making your design quickly helps. Also, we used BIC permanent markers instead of Sharpies, so that may have made a difference as well. Here is how mine turned out:

4. On Thursday, Nina from A World of Dresses wrote a post about me for her My Closet series. I was honored and had a great time answering her questions and reading her post. Nina is incredibly sweet and a great blogger who has a wonderful writing style. I encourage you to check out her amazing blog!

5. I have a sort of moderate weekend planned which I am looking forward to. I like doing things and going out of the house, but sometimes I just need a little rest time which I will have a bit of this weekend. :)

Have a wonderful weekend!

See where I link up here.

I was Featured Today!

Happy Thursday! Just popping in super quickly to let y'all know that I was featured over at A World of Dresses today! The blogger behind A World of Dresses, Nina, and I met through Twitter. Nina's blog is about dresses and the women behind them. She has a series called My Closet where she features other women and their dresses. I was able to answer her questions and send her a couple of pictures of dresses. Nina is also participating in Dressember this year. She is so sweet and I am honored that I get to be featured. You definitely should check out her wonderful blog! You can view the full post about me here.