For our family, Easter has never been about bunnies and Christmas has never been about Santa. (For the record, we didn’t go around bursting any Santa-bubbles - we just read this book to learn about the true story inspiration behind jolly old St. Nicholas).
But, being Easter weekend, we wanted to share with you a family-favourite movie that, ironically, features both the Easter Bunny and Santa.
We originally watched Rise of the Guardians back in 2014, after our littles were tucked into bed. It seriously messed us up...in a good way. A Notebook kind of way.
A movie about Santa and the Easter Bunny messed us up. You read that correctly. And you are wondering how this is possible... The best way to understand is to let North, Sandy, Tooth and Bunny explain it themselves in this scene.
Oh, another tidbit about our family; the females in our house typically don’t do so well with the intense emotions of animated movies: Lion King, Finding Nemo and Peter Rabbit all had at least one of us (usually all of us) bursting into tears.
And so it was with good reason we didn’t watch Rise of the Guardians with our girls until just this year (they’re 9 and 12 now) Even then, there were points we weren’t sure if we’d all make it through. This movie is both funny, and intense.
But we decided to risk the emotional fallout because the message is so important and so timely. We want our girls to learn, through as many mediums and stories as possible - fear only has as much power as we let it have.
There’s a quote from Jamie that gives us shivers every single time.
(Depending on the age of your kids and their emotional comfort zones, this may be an adults-only movie for your family right now. This next clip will help you decide.)
Spoiler alert: this is THE scene that makes the movie. If you like your suspense, this will give away the ending, so view at your own risk.
Watching again with our girls; a whole seven years later, we were reminded that Rise of the Guardians had a bigger influence on the formation of Author than we had realized. [The power of story at work yet again.]
When the kids step forward to stand up to Pitch...THAT.
Whether you watch it with or without your kids or make it a date-night movie - let us know what you think of Rise of the Guardians. We’d love to hear what scene spoke to you.
]]>In traditional business math, the more clothes a company sells, the more money it makes... We happen to believe that it is possible to build a successful clothing company by selling fewer clothes...to more people.
]]>Have you ever wondered how many of the clothes in your child’s closet were designed to become beloved hand-me-downs?
In a fast-fashion world where clothes frequently appear as if they were designed to self-destruct, purchasing clothes made to last is no easy feat.
If you've ever thought, "Surely, it can't be that hard to make clothes that survive more than one child," you're absolutely right. It's not hard; it's impossible...if your business model is based on consumption.
In 2018 H&M reported $23.6 Billion USD in global sales and trend-savvy Zara was valued at a healthy $18.4 Billion USD.
With sales targets like that, major fashion retailers simply can't afford to make clothes that last.
Fast-fashion giants prefer to release new styles at mind-boggling speed; from design to completion in as little as two weeks. New styles arrive almost daily to coax shoppers into a constant state of unsatisfied desire.
Thankfully consumers need not be in want long; surprisingly low price tags don't demand a lot of consideration or sacrifice. Why bother with quality when an item can simply be replaced?
The overwhelming profitability of the fast-fashion business model can make it seem entirely counterintuitive to design clothes with the goal of being passed down to siblings and cousins.
In traditional business math, the more clothes a company sells, the more money it makes. (Notice that we didn’t say, “the more successful it is.” More on that thought another day.)
Even so, we happen to believe that it is possible to build a successful clothing company by selling fewer clothes...to more people.
How will we do this?
By paying more, not less, for labour and materials.
By building a supply chain defined by honour and dignity.
By creating versatile products designed to last.
By inspiring our customers and celebrating the impact of each purchase.
By making our growth dependent on cheerleaders, not consumption.
Sure it might sound crazy, but we're actually in pretty good company. You may have heard of a little company called Patagonia... Do you remember this eyebrow-raising ad? (You can read more about their counterintuitive business model here).
Despite our reference to H&M and Zara, we don’t personally have plans for global domination - although we do have dreams of transforming an industry known for disturbing workplace violations and shockingly low wages that make the poverty line look like a far-off dream.
The great news: our idea of success doesn’t depend on you buying clothes to replace ones that fall apart, it depends on you buying clothes that you love; clothes that your kids love...and then simply telling your friends about them.
What do you think? In our fast-fashion culture, do you think a business can be successful making kids' clothes designed to last?
]]>New York Times bestselling author and Canadian mama of seven, Ann Voskamp, explains the phenomenon of thanks-giving this way:
“We only feel one emotion at a time so it’s impossible to give thanks and feel fear or anger."
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Here in Canada, we’re celebrating Thanksgiving this weekend; a holiday celebrated on the 2nd weekend of October and commonly met with, “Is that this weekend already???”
But this year, Thanksgiving feels like it couldn’t have come at a better time.
Never before in our lifetime of Octobers has the world felt so divided and angry. Fear is flying from every angle and it seems like a full-time job just to discern truth among the many “news” sources.
In an effort to inject some warm, fuzzy vibes into highly stressed North Americans - or maybe just to increase sales, Starbucks began pumping out Pumpkin Spice Lattes back on August 25th (the earliest they’ve ever been released).
Unfortunately, feel-good-flavours are a short-lived fix for the swirling negativity and uncertainty of 2020, but if cinnamon and ginger can direct our focus toward thanks-giving...that might actually offer some hope.
Turns out consciously choosing to give thanks could be the anxiety-antidote our world needs right now.
New York Times bestselling author and Canadian mama of seven, Ann Voskamp, explains the phenomenon of thanks-giving this way:
“We only feel one emotion at a time so it’s impossible to give thanks and feel fear or anger.”
Did you catch that?
“...It’s impossible to give thanks and feel fear or anger.”
Could it really be that simple? Having sold more than one million copies of her book book One Thousand Gifts, and having managed to write anything at all while raising that many children...we’re inclined to think Ann might know what she’s talking about.
So, the question is: how can you put this mental hot-wiring to work for you right now?
Voskamp suggests keeping a gratitude journal...or maybe your family simply shares what you’re thankful for around the dinner table each night.
Maybe you’ll want to take James Clear’s advice and make thanks-giving a habit by tacking on a conscious thought of gratitude after every news article you consume.
[What might the world look like if we all just cultivated that one habit??]
Regardless of when your nation’s calendar recommends that you celebrate Thanksgiving, you may want to start looking for ways to make thanks-giving a daily event instead of a yearly one.
Do you have an existing habit to which you could attach intentional moment of gratitude?
What’s an easy way you could cultivate intentional thanks-giving within your home?
If you're looking for a way to be militantly thankful, Author t-shirts are a fun and easy way to tangibly express gratitude for your abundance while fighting the extreme poverty that steals dignity and safety from vulnerable children. Find your favourite styles right here.
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My family is asleep, the birthday cake is put away (minus one extra slice) and I'm curled up with a laptop trying to process this moment into words.
]]>That tiny human was the fulfillment of 5 years of hoping and praying and wondering...and waiting.
Finally, after an extra 10 days (because she decided to take a pass on her due date), and another day (because the first induction failed to motivate her arrival), and then another day, and then two and a half very looooong hours...she arrived. 10:28 p.m., October 2, 2008.
I remember very little of October 2nd. Which is why, of course, our firstborn has a younger sister.
But the morning of October 3rd, I have never forgotten. Through the lens of five years of hope [and fear and loss] and anticipation, I watched in absolute awe as she slept beside me.
At that moment; in that bassinet, lay THE most important person in the entire world to me.
I remember the moment with all the vividness of a photograph; even though I don't have a photograph - because no one else was in the room.
As I watched her, soaking her in, my heart flooded with thankfulness. I thought of so many friends and family who had shared our journey - waiting and hoping and praying alongside us; so eagerly awaiting the arrival of this child. I couldn't wait to tell them she was finally here.
Suddenly, what seemed like an audible voice...but wasn’t. Just the thought: “Every child deserves to come into the world with this much anticipation.”
The idea took my breath away. Images of babies born into poverty-stricken situations; born to terrified mothers for whom providing their baby with simple nourishment would feel like an impossible burden. Fear and hopelessness instead of rejoicing and awe.
I confess it took me some time to process: while the swaddled baby lying next to me was THE most important person in the world to me...she was no more important than any other baby.
Fast forward a few years and one more birth-day later, my husband and I started hearing accounts of children being sold into slavery for lack of resource and opportunity.
Turns out that idea of “those kids” being just-as-important-as-my-own had taken root somewhere deep. Mama-bear-like anger rose up on its hind legs inside my spirit and said, “No way! Not on my watch.”
And that is why, long after my family is asleep, and the birthday cake has been put away (minus one extra slice), and I’ve taken a moment to scroll through the photos of that birth-day, I find myself curled up with a laptop, clicking away, compelled to process this experience into words.
I write because my daughter’s birth and the long wait marked by crushing disappointments, lead to a moment that has changed the course of my life, my family’s life, and I hope, the lives of thousands of more families through this crazy endeavour we call Author.
I write, late into the night, for the kids who weren't welcomed into the world with excitement and celebration
I write because Author most likely wouldn’t exist if this moment hadn’t happened.
I write for anyone who may need to hear a twelve-years-later perspective on how the most painful, confusing chapter of your story may turn out to be the most significant.
What about your story? Are there chapters of your story that have redefined the idea of "perfect timing"?
How did becoming a parent change the way you see the world?
Lee-Ann dos Santos co-founded AUTHOR with her husband and with the help and encouragement of their 2 daughters; newly 9 and 12 at the time of writing. They work and learn and play together on beautiful Vancouver Island.
For the love of childhood...Author transforms children's clothing purchases into poverty-fighting weapons.
]]>They say every journey starts with a single step. But the first "step" of this journey wasn't even recognizable as a "step".
Sometimes a really big "Yes" begins with a really small, silent "No".
]]>We could never have guessed that for our family, April 24th, 2013 would be that kind of day.
We were just sitting together at the table, the four of us, eating lunch. The news was on TV - which, thinking back now, was kind of odd.
We’re not typically TV watchers, especially during meal times. Especially considering that at the time, we had a 20-month old, touchy-touch (our family’s official term for “tactile learner”) seated at our dining table. Meal times required fully present parents.
But, for some strange reason that I don't remember, the news was on.
What I do remember is getting out of my chair, picking up my daughter and walking closer to the TV.
What I was watching was shocking; a collapsed factory, hundreds of trapped workers, bolts of fabric used in attempted escapes, a pair of children’s pants, clothing labels.
Labels I recognized.
Labels that were on some of my children’s clothing.
It was at the very moment that I turned to my husband and said, “Love of my life, let’s start a children’s clothing business!”
He said nothing.
Because I didn’t say that. Because I didn’t say anything. To anyone. Just somewhere deep in my gut, I heard it: “No. We’re not doing that anymore.”
This year, April 24th, marked the 6 year anniversary of the Rana Plaza collapse in Dhaka, Bangladesh. This year, on April 26th, our website, author.clothing went live.
What went on in our home, in our heads and in our hearts the past six years to get us to this place??
We are just beginning to unpack this journey.
How did we end up here? How did a small, silent “no” turn into a “we’re-all-in-with-both-feet” clothing business?
We’re not entirely sure ourselves. But something happened, and is happening. We like to call it: “The Grand Experiment”.
We don’t know how any of it will turn out.
But we already know one thing: that we have never felt quite so alive as when we’re giving ourselves to work that we love, work that has the ability alter the course of other people's lives too.
If that experience is the only thing that comes out of this journey...we will have to say it’s been a wild success.
Now if “The Grand Experiment” goes further than that... Wild-er success might look like a whole new generation of consumers realizing just how powerful they really are. And it might look like big corporations looking at sales numbers - consumer votes, and deciding that it’s time for the fashion industry to change.
We’d be happy to unpack that too.
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Who or what has motivated your journey into ethical fashion? We'd love to hear your story in the comments below.
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