Remember that time...

Remember that time Aimee and I wore only 7 items of clothing for a month? Or that time I read Jen Hatmaker's book, 7, and realized I have way too much stuff (like too many clothes in my closet)? Or even that time I wore only dresses for the month of December? Apparently I like projects that involve clothing.

Well, my current project started way back in January, and I just realized I should have been keeping track of it here since the beginning. It started as a New Year's Resolution idea: to stop buying new clothes for a year.

Why would I want to do that? 

1. I already have so many clothes in my closet, many of which I don't even wear. (See below).

2. A lot of my clothing I buy just because it's cheap, or "a good deal" but then I wear things once or twice and after that they just sit in the closet.

3. I've been reading and thinking and asking questions about how my choices contribute to some of the darker side of the fashion industry...Where is my clothing being made? Are the people who make my clothing paid a fair wage? What are the working and living conditions for the people making my clothing? Can the choices I make about buying (or not buying) clothing make a difference?

4. I'm always up for a project/challenge - I wanted to see if I could really do it!

My rules are pretty simple:

1. No buying new clothes for a year.
2. Buying used clothing (from garage sales, resale stores, etc...) is allowed.
3. Getting clothing as a gift (for birthday, Christmas, etc...) is allowed.
4. Any other questions could be solved by the (unofficial) Clothing Council.

I've been at this for about 6 months now, and you know I've got lots of thoughts and stories to share, so stay tuned...

The End of Dressember

I am writing this while wearing sweatpants...sweatPANTS...because Dressember is officially over! Back to jeans (pajama jeans, maybe?), and hopefully warmer legs! But before I'm officially done, here are just a few last pictures and stats from my Dressember...

Money raised by me (really, all of you): $526 - Amazing!!!!

Money raised by the whole Dressember campaign (so far): $440K - Wow!!!!

Different dresses worn by me: 11(ish...I maybe didn't take a picture every day, so I'm not totally sure on this one)

Most times I wore the same dress: 6 (Hmm...6 times in 31 days, too many times?)

Times I was really jealous of other people who got to wear pants: 4 (mostly on Fridays, when everyone else was wearing jeans! Also, while I was in Spain. And on the plane. Ok, maybe that number is closer to 8.)

I've been seriously overwhelmed by the amount of support from so many different people - you donated, took my pictures of the day, didn't make fun of me because I didn't wear jeans on Fridays, got other people involved, prayed for and thought about the women who are trapped in trafficking and slavery - it's been pretty cool to see how one small thing can bring so many different people together to make a difference!

I know that's one of the things I will take away from this month - that everyone working together can make a huge difference. $526 may not seem like a lot of money, but when combined with everyone doing Dressember...imagine how much of a difference $440K is going to make!

The other thing wearing a dress everyday reminded me to do was to pray for the women trapped in slavery and trafficking, and that's not a small thing, either. So even though I'm not wearing a dress everyday anymore, I'm going to try to remember to pray for these women every time I do put on a dress.

Thanks for participating in Dressember with me...hopefully you've become more aware of and maybe even been inspired to get involved in this issue of human trafficking. Maybe you'll even wear dresses all month with me next year?! Hopefully you haven't gotten too tired of all of my crazy dress pictures, either!

And if you're interested in more information or ways to get involved with this issue, check out what these organizations are doing...

International Justice Mission    The Exodus Road    Kwagala Project 

Here's one last picture for you...check out all of my tights and fleece-lined leggings on laundry day...

Happy Dressember and Happy New Year! 

Just Pictures

Well, nothing very interesting to say today, just some pictures from the week. A little proof that I am actually still wearing a dress everyday. And, check out the last picture - different shoes!

It's Bigger Than a Dress!

One of the hashtags for the Dressember campaign is #itsbiggerthanadress

I love the idea that it's not just about wearing a dress for 31 days...It's about spreading awareness...spreading hope...and making a difference wherever you are...

My #itsbiggerthanadress story goes like this...

Last week when I got to work, students were already lined up in the hallways. A bunch of them were holding green papers. Others were passing out green papers to students and staff. One of the kids came up to me with a flyer and said "Do you know about this?" I took the paper, and this is what I saw...

Please make a donation for the ladies
so when they get out of slavery

Other kids were passing out this one...

Please help Miss Granzow
raise $ for slavery

How precious is that!? Another 2nd grade teacher on my team had been telling her class about what I was doing, and they decided to make the flyers and raise money to help. They created these flyers (all by themselves - notice the spelling!) and then my friend printed out information about Dressember from the website to put on the back. Then the kids passed these flyers out all over the school, to students and staff, explaining what I was doing and why it was important. My favorite example: one boy went up to our PE teacher, shoved the flyer in her face, and asked "Do you want to help Miss Granzow stop slavery?" LOVE.

And while I love raising money and awareness for women trapped in slavery and trafficking, I also love that Dressember is being used to teach a bunch of elementary school kids about generosity...giving their time...their writing...their spare change...

So tonight, as I made a $110 donation to Dressember from the students and staff at my school and then raised my goal to $500, I thought again about how true it is, that no one can do everything, but everyone can do something...even if you're only in 2nd grade! 

#itsbiggerthanadress

(And, like always, if you want to contribute, check out my fundraising page here)

Mission Accomplished!

Wow! In just 16 days, all 31 of my Dressember days have been sponsored for $10 a day, plus a little extra! I have raised $325, which is 105% of my goal completed! Hooray!
And so far the Dressember campaign has raised over $215,000! How amazing is that?!

Here's what I looked like this morning, when I saw that all 31 days had been sponsored...

And here are last week's pictures...Sorry about the bad selfies, especially the headless one...Also, I realized I'm wearing the same boots in every picture...maybe time to branch out?

If you were hoping to support IJM and survivors of human trafficking, it's not too late. Even though I've met my goal, you can still feel free to head on over to my page and donate! Thanks so much for supporting!

Confession...

...I have worn this dress 3 times this week. Ok, 3 days in a row. But in my defense, it is cold here, and this dress is like a big long sweatshirt, and it's so comfy and warm. I did spill something on it this morning, though, so I guess I won't be able to wear it again tomorrow (good thing!)

In other news, we have raised $185 for International Justice Mission so far!

Here are some of the things IJM could do with that money...

• Provide 6 days of aftercare for a survivor of trafficking ($30/day)
• Freedom Training for a family rescued from slavery ($111)

For more about how your support can change lives, check out IJM's giving page.

And if you want to help me reach my goal of $10 a day for the month of December, check out my Dressember page! 

 

Happy Dressember!

It's Dressember again! 

That means I'll be wearing a dress every day this month and standing up for women who are trapped in slavery and trafficking by raising money for International Justice Mission.

Here's a peek at my first week.

And here's a peek at my Dressember page. 

(Check it out to see what you can do to help.)

I'm participating in Dressember because now that I know about how many women and girls are enslaved around the world, I can't unknow it. And I have to do something. This small thing, wearing a dress each day for a month, is my something. I believe I can make a difference, because no one can do everything, but everyone can do something.

Will you join me in doing something and help me meet my goal of $10 a day for the month of December?