What Not To Wear....And a Prize!

I have a chance to share something with you that I'm really excited about. Recently, I read a post by Shaun Groves that made me want to research more before purchasing clothing for my family. I followed the links within the story to other posts detailing a recent trip he took to the Dominican Republic with Compassion International and immediately felt convicted. Of all the things I've been trying to change within our family, I have given little thought to our clothing, where it comes from and how it's made.

Ideally, I'd love to be able to support companies that use organic cotton, safe dye and support fair trade. I realize that this is often difficult to do given the extra expense involved and time it would take you to research in order to find such a company.

Maggie's Organics is a company that I am proud to introduce to you. They use only organic materials in making their apparel and were instrumental in creating the Fair Trade Zone, "a 100% worker-owned Sewing Co-Operative in Nicaragua that has helped hurricane refugees create a new life for themselves and their families."

Further, they are currently helping a group of displaced textile workers in rural NC (an area that owns a piece of my heart because I am originally from there!) by helping them start a sewing company owned by the workers themselves.

This company is getting it right. Click here to find out more about how they are putting back into local communities and using materials that are sustainable and safe. If you're curious, Maggie's Organics is also very reasonably priced. I know that is a big issue for me when finding companies to support.



Maggie's recently sent me one of their lounge sets to try out and let me tell you, I'm hooked. I love pajamas and these are soft, comfortable AND cute! They were also kind enough to send along a pair for me to share with you! I have this one in a size large and to win, go to Maggie's Organics site and browse through their products. Come back here and let me know what you love the most and I'll randomly draw a winner from the comments on Wednesday, July 30. In you post about this contest on your own blog, I'll give you three extra entries! (Be sure to let me know that you've done this!)

If you have any questions, feel free to leave them here in the comments or click the link on your right to email me! Good luck!

Did You Know?

Something I've learned from Gorgeously Green recently is what good those little stickers on your fruits and veggies are. I've always thought the number was just what the cashiers used to key in the item. WRONG! They are way more important than that.

If your sticker has a four digit number, beginning with a 4, it is not organic.

If your sticker has a five digit number, beginning with a 9, it is organic.

If your sticker has a five digit number beginning with an 8, it is genetically modified.

Did you catch that last one? Genetically modified fruits and veggies? NO THANK YOU.

The way Sophie Uliano says to remember this is, "Four is a bore. I hate eight. Nine is just fine." Cheesy? Yes, I'd say so. Helpful? Sure! I can't tell you how much I've repeated that in my head as I cruise the produce section. I have yet to run into any with an eight but I'm on the lookout.

I hope to discuss more about eating organic foods soon but in the meantime, my beautiful friend Andrea has a great post about it up today! Go visit her and check it out!