Dainty Button Chronicles: Operation Model Search

I never thought I'd be trying to get the word out about something like this but I am. My business has launched a "model search". Sounds fun, right? I'm already stressed out about this. Before Dainty Button ventured and expanded into a clothing collection, I didn't think much about photo shoots. I've used a few models for marketing purposes with Dainty Button's accessories, but nothing too serious. A clothing collection is a little different. I use a dress form for studio shots and website listings but now that Dainty Button' s clothing collection has successfully launched, it's time to take it to the next step and beef up our marketing. I'm super excited about this. I'll be working with a fabulous photographer, Sam Hassas, who happened to do my families holiday photo session, which was bsolutely amazing! I have some great ideas for this photo shoot, which will officially highlight our Spring/Summer collection. There will be many new styles and designs that have not been introduced on the website, in this shoot as well. 

So, what are we looking for?

I'm looking for a great group of women of all ages and sizes. My idea for this shoot is a very eclectic group, with different looks, styles and personalities. Here's what we're looking for...

Requirement #1:

Model Categories

Category 1: Two toddler girls between the ages of 2 and 4

Category 2: Two little girls between the ages of 6 and 9

Category 3: Two teenager girls between the ages of 14 and 17

Category 4: Three young adult women between the ages of 21 and 35 (Size 2-4; 6-8; 8-10)

Category 5: Three women between the ages of 36 and 45 (Size 2-4; 6-8; 8-10)

Category 6: Plus size woman between the ages of 21 and 40

Category 7: Senior woman, 60+

Requirement #2:

Must be able to spend a Saturday in the San Francisco Bay area, during this shoot.

Am I getting paid? Will lunch be provided? What's in it for me?

We are not a huge corporation, which allows us to pay each model, although we do want to make it worth your while. Each model will be able to keep each item they model during the shoot. Lunch will also be provided. We also have a special "Model Friends and Family" package, we'll present you with at the time of the shoot.

I'm interested, what do I need to do?

For anybody that is interested, please email us at daintybutton@yahoo.com with a little information about yourself, size, which model category you're interested in and include a self portrait (full body) of yourself. All inquiries must be turned in by Saturday, March 31st. 

When is this photo shoot?

I'm currently securing a Saturday in April. We will confirm a date the week of March 26th. This will not take place the weekend of Easter. 

We look forward to hearing from you! 

Charity and the DB Team!

Dainty Button Chronicles: The Skirt Issue

I've been attempting to post this for awhile but sitting down and doing so, has been much easier said than done. So, finally here we go...

A little over a month ago, my dear friend and I partnered up and launched a Skirt Collection with my accessories business, Dainty Button. This has been one of the best business decisions, I've made. Since launching this collection, I cannot tell you how successful and wonderful it's been. Along with something like this, comes much work. This past month has been a learning experience for us and although the positive feedback from this collection has astounded us, we've taken into consideration suggestions, more neutral feedback and even complaints (yes, every business has them) regarding this collection and we are striving to better these areas, as small as they may seem. Our goal and purpose is to meet each and every customers needs and we hope this will help. This post is to hopefully help customers and future customers understand our policies, sizing and mission behind our clothing collection.

Dainty Button Clothing Line Mission:

To provide a beautiful, wholesome, affordable and trendy line of clothing for women.

What's so awesome about our skirts?

Each one of our skirts is designed and handmade by us, for you. We take into consideration sizing, style and comfort. We enjoy wearing skirts that flatter, are comfortable and trendy. I'm sure you want the same, as well. A large majority of our skirt collection is made with jersey cotton and jersey knit, although we are branching out and introducing more styles, textures and designs.


What kind of material and fabric is being used? 


Our skirts are made with jersey cotton knit and jersey knit. These allow for a very comfortable fit. Some knits stretch differently, so please keep this in mind when purchasing different styles. As they do fit true to size, please do not get concerned with one skirt does not stretch the same compared to a previous purchase. Nothing is wrong with the skirt, it's just a different stretch of knit.


Why is the hem zig zag?


We offer a hidden seam on our skirts, therefore if you happen to notice a zig zag stitch, this does not mean it's been made poorly. This is a hidden seam and a zig zag stitch is indication of a hidden seam.

Why does it take longer than normal to receive my skirt?

Each one of our skirts is designed and handmade by us, for you. A lot of time, care and attention is put into each design, versus a factory of workers cranking out designs, hence the reason we ask that you allow us 14 BUSINESS DAYS with production. Since launching this collection, we have an extremely large volume of orders coming through daily and we strive to meet each and every one of our customers needs. If you for some reason are in a time crunch, we would gladly work with you.

How do I know it will fit?

Shopping can be very stressful when it comes to sizing, especially online. We have provided a size chart on our etsy site with each listing to help you make a proper decision when purchasing. Our sizes run true to size. Here is our size chart...

XS 
Size: 0-2
Waist: 23"-25" 
Hips: 36"-40"

S 
Size: 2-4 
Waist: 25"-27"
Hips: 38"-42"

M
Size: 4-6 
Waist: 28"-30"
Hips: 40"-44"

L
Size: 8-10
Waist: 31"-33"
Hips: 43"-48"

XL 
Size: 12-14
Waist: 33"-35" 
Hips: 46"-51"

XXL
Size: 16-18 
Waist: 35.5"-38"
Hips: 49"-55"

3X 
Size: 20-22
Waist: 38"-40"
Hips: 56"-61"

What about length on the Maxi Skirts? 

Maxi skirts can be tricky to purchase, especially if you're short. Here is the standard length on our maxi skirts, but the awesome thing about our collection is you can get a custom length.

Regular: 38"-40"

Tall: 42"-44"

If you need it longer or even shorter, when purchasing, just mention what length you would like in "message to seller" and we'll make sure it's taken care of.

Your short skirts are too short, for me.

Our short skirts are a standard 22"-24" INCHES long, although if you do need it longer or shorter, let us know or simply comment with the length you would like in "message to seller", upon checkout at etsy. If you're unsure about a length, email us at daintybutton@yahoo.com and we'll help you select a length that will work for you. PLEASE NOTE...Anything longer than 28" falls under the long skirt category, when purchasing. 


Important note, regarding length...


Because we offer customization on lengths, we do not offer exchanges on length issues. It's VERY IMPORTANT to make sure you choose the right length to prevent this from happening.

A helpful and very important detail, when selecting a size...

Our etsy shop does not allow a drop down box, allowing you to select the size. Our listings are in categories of XS-L and XL-3X. It is very important and crucial that you put what size you need, upon checkout in "message to seller". If you happen to forget or do not know about the option of "message to seller", shoot us an email at daintybutton@yahoo.com with your order number and the size you need. Without providing us a size it delays the shipment timeline and many frustrations on both ends arise when this happens. Please make sure you are purchasing the correct listing and providing us with a size. It makes our job easier and you won't have to wait longer than necessary for your order to arrive.

1. I don't like my skirt.

2. Oh no! My skirt doesn't fit!

3. Great! The length isn't going to work.

What should I do?

At Dainty Button, we do not offer refunds. ALL SALES ARE FINAL, ALTHOUGH we do offer an exchange. If your skirt doesn't fit, no problem. We'll gladly exchange it for one that does. If you're not happy with your purchase and would like to exchange, we'll also gladly do so. It is very important that you read ALL DETAILS AND POLICIES, before purchasing. A lot of questions can be answered by doing so. If your skirt is too short or long, that can be fixed. Each skirt is provided with a hem that can be let out, if it's too short. If for some reason, this does not work, we'll be happy to assist in making sure you have the correct length. PLEASE NOTE... minor alteration issues can be resolved with your local seamstress.

Uhhh, my skirt is really see through. I can't wear this without a slip.

When creating and designing some our skirts, we did not take into consideration that some would be very thin. This is something that can easily be resolved by wearing a slip, but some women, such as myself, hate wearing slips. Let's face it, they're quite annoying. We have provided a "lining option" in our etsy shop. This allows you as the customer to choose if you'd like lining in your skirt. If you do not see a lining option, this means the skirt is ok to wear without a slip. Here is a list of our skirts that we suggest getting lined, if you don't want to go with the slip option...


The Black Crinkle Short Skirt
The Black Crinkle Maxi Maxine
The Summer Maxi Maxine
The Juliet
The Zoe


All of our other skirts are jersey knit and tend to run on a more lighter side, so please take that into consideration when purchasing.




How should I take care and wash my skirt?


As of now, all of our skirts are made with jersey knit and jersey cotton knit, so we suggest:


Washing with cold water and hang to dry. We do not recommend drying, to avoid shrinking. As we introduce more styles and textures, care instructions will be provided. 




Reading the small print...


When we list merchandise, we do our very best to capture the true color and detail of each design. We also try and provide as much detail in each listing to help make our customers feel confident in their purchasing decision. Please take the time to read every detail, as many questions can be answered prior to purchase. Also, please read your invoice as it states our shipping turnaround timeline. 


I hope this blog post allows our customers to understand this collection better and assists in making a future purchase.


If you'd like to be on our mailing listing, please email us at daintybutton@yahoo.com. This email list will keep you up to speed on new styles and designs as we launch them, as well as exclusive promos and sales. 


Cheers!
Charity @Dainty Button

Sunday School Chronicles: Planting a seed

A few weeks ago I asked my class full of students, during our midweek kids class, questions about the lesson. Not one student could answer them. Adding more frustration was the fact that during snack all they talked about were video games and movies. What was the deal? I teach a lesson about God's love and all they want to talk about is Transformers. I left class that night feeling so frustrated, then I became frustrated with myself. Why? Because I read my lesson from what I had printed out and what I knew from memory (thanks to being in a hurry that day and not preparing better) and after 6 years of teaching Sunday school, I knew how to effectively teach kids about God's Word and help them retain it. I failed. When I began teaching Sunday school, I never really understood the importance of questions and review. It wasn't school, right? They weren't going to be graded on it. This reveals how "green" I was. After several months of teaching, I picked up some resource books with games, annoyed with how very little the internet had, at the time. There was a section of review games. I happened to flip through it and actually liked what I saw. These were some great games. Why not try them?

I introduced this to my students the next class and they loved it. I had a couple teachers assistants in class with me, as well as a visitor from another UPC church, sitting in on the session. They thought I was a genius. Ha! I started putting review game ideas into our curriculum and it was mandatory for each teacher to use at least one review game in their session. We soon realized that our students were retaining more of the lesson.

The last two years our Sunday school department has gone under major construction. Since moving buildings twice, we have had Sunday school in living rooms, garages, parks, you name it. Since moving into our current building, we've been able to obtain classrooms again and a storage room for years worth of materials we've accumulated. That being said, prior to this new building, our staff has not had the resources to bust out lots of activities that we used to because we were what you would call a "traveling Sunday school". Seriously. We put the basic necessities in a container and carried it around to wherever Sunday school was taking place that weekend. Gypsies of sorts. I'm proud to say that we toughed it out, but this sort of scenario does take extra work, considering it's not traditional, whatsoever. That being said, since the first of the year, we've been able to go back to a more structured system (thank GOD!). I write the curriculum for our kids ministry (working on making it available to others, in the future) and the month of February happened to be on "Love". I'm a firm believer that you should use as many visuals and creativity as possible, when you teach. This is not to say that God's Word is not exciting but you're teaching kids, not adults. No brainer. I was teaching the lesson on Jacob and Rachel and wanted to use some visuals. This is what I came up with...

Yes, that's Adam Levine, Mila Kunis and Uncle Sam. "This is bringing the world into our church!", you say. Well, sadly this is what our kids in church know. They see this every day. Why not use it to help teach God's Word? Adam Levine was Jacob, that ugly creature was Leah, Mila Kunis was Rachel and Uncle Same was Laban. I cannot tell you how effective this lesson was. My class during midweek is very rambunctious and when it's completely silent and they're captivated by the lesson, you know you're doing a good job of portraying God's Word. During the entire monthly session, I used things such as this. At the end of each series, we do a huge review game. I put together this game last week, called BOMB. It's a game I created a couple years ago and it's an amazing, cheap and easy review game that the kids will love. 

BOMB!

Preparation:

1. Cut 24 cards out of construction paper (same color and size) and label each card with a number, however high you want to go. Leave two cards out and write "BOMB" on them.

3. Create a list of questions from the entire monthly session.

3. Split the kids into two teams, with each team getting 12 cards (one BOMB should be in each pile). Lay the cards facedown on the table of each team.

4. Use a whiteboard, poster board or chalkboard to keep score. If they can see their scores, it brings a lot of excitement.

How to play:

Start with one team, by asking a question. If they get it right, they get to pick a card. Whatever the number is on that card, that's how many points they get. Display the points each time they draw a card. Go back and forth from team to team. The object of the game is to not get the "BOMB" card. If they pick the "BOMB" card, it wipes out all points and they have to start over. The anticipation and adrenaline excites the kids. I will warn you, this can get very competitive, but it's a wonderful review game and loads of fun!

After leaving class last Wednesday, I couldn't be more proud of those kids!

You have no idea!

When teaching Sunday school, kids church, youth class, etc., a lot of times you don't think you're making a difference. You're wrong. Two case in points:

Bus Ministry:

I've often times thought that what we do during our Sunday programs is in vain. We pick kids up that disrespect us most of the time and come from horrible lifestyles, asking myself, "We have them one day out of the week. How are we even effecting these kids, positively?". My lack of faith was proven wrong when a mother of a bus kid called me one week, after they had moved, leaving a voicemail. This is what it said:

"Hi, Charity. I didn't get a chance to tell you "bye" when we moved. I know my kids caused trouble a lot of times, but you will never know the impact your church had on my family. The kids loved coming to Sunday school every Sunday and would remember things throughout the week. Thank you for sharing God's love with them. Your church is a true testimony of God's love. I know they will carry this with them, throughout their adulthood. Thank you and if we're ever in the area on a Sunday, the kids would love to visit."

I could barely even listen, because I was sobbing. It was just like God to place that reminder in my lap. What you do is not in vain!

Outreach within the four walls:

We have a midweek classes upstairs for our kids ministry. Within the past few months, a couple of our students have brought family to KidZone. Their parents are not members. The mom of this family pulled me aside and told me that these two kids double up on chores and homework on Monday's and Tuesday's, so their parents will allow them to attend midweek and stay out a little late on a school night. I was shocked. If these kids can work extra hard during the week to hear God's Word, then I better up my game and bust my butt doing the best I can to make it worth their while. Every Sunday school teacher should have this mentality. Over the past few weeks, watching these two kids remember Bible verses and lessons, knowing that they don't live in homes that parents attend our church as members, has made me realize that God's Word is being planted and I'm doing my part. 

If for nobody else but myself, just a reminder that teaching kids God's Word is not in vain. Be encouraged!

Entertaining Americans

I live with my phone. It's by my side, at all times. Seriously. I even take it to the bathroom with me and while I shower. Ok, not IN the shower, but in the bathroom, as I shower. Do not judge. I guess I'm afraid I'll miss an important phone call or something? Throughout the day, I'll find myself checking Facebook and Twitter constantly, checking the timeline to see who's gotten engaged and posted it by saying, "I said yes!", who's pooped for the day and let FB know, who's child is playing in the street and now that parent wants to beat them, teenage girls and some mothers posting pictures of weird ducks...oh, wait...(and this I'm somewhat guilty of myself), the sermons. And the list goes on. Have you tried to go one day without FB? If so, good for you. Because, I haven't been able to, except when I was in Branson two summers ago, where there was no 3G. They have thousands of tourists a year but no 3G. Go figure. The sad thing was, I was on family vacation and in such a cranky mood because I couldn't text or check FB and Twitter. I wouldn't be blogging this if I thought I was the only one in this boat. I'm not. There are hundreds, thousands and even millions of Americans who do the very same thing. It's a world of technology and always having to be amused by something.

This blog thought comes from a book that I just read in my Lit class. Neil Postman wrote a book called "Amusing Ourselves to Death". If you've not read it, you should! It's a great read and will open your eyes about the desperate and very sad need that Americans have for media, technology and television. When he wrote this book, texting, FB and Twitter were not even in the picture yet. I'd love to hear what he has to say about this, today. As I write this post, I'm preaching to myself, as well. I think everybody is guilty of this, to a point. Some, more than others. At least, those that have smart phones, FB, Twitter, etc.   Remember chat rooms such as First Church, the social network Everyone's Connected and MySpace? Those were times, right before smart phones took over the world. It didn't seem as much of an addiction because the only way you could access them was through a computer, which unless it was a laptop, you wouldn't haul it everywhere you go. Then the smart phones came out, with the apps and there went America. The internet in your hands. So, how were Americans being entertained before smart phones and social networks? Television. They still are. The world of technology, Apple products, game apps, social networks, smart phones, etc., have only added more entertainment to the grandmother of them all, which is television. And in my opinion, in 2012, television and the internet are no different. You can see most of what you see on television, on the internet. Its not a theory or thought. It's the truth. With smart phones, there's always something to keep us entertained. If FB is boring, head over to Twitter. If that's boring, go play Angry Birds or post on Pinterest. These are all ways that we are kept entertained. In "Amusing Ourselves to Death", Postman made a remark about Americans and television, which is extremely sad when you think about it, "The result of all this is that Americans are the best entertained and quite likely the least well-informed people in the Western world". He goes on to state that, "...70 percent of our citizens do not know who is the Secretary of State or the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court". I can guarantee that more people can remember the highlights of the Grammy's, from last week, myself included. My generation only knows the world of technology and being entertained 24/7.

Entertainment bleeds over into everything. In the years of Abraham Lincoln, political debates would last for hours, upon hours, sometimes a couple days. People would stand around, intently listening and getting involved. Now, campaigns are on television, while opponents attack one another, with viewers only being able to be captivated for a couple hours, at most. News stories do not go over 45 seconds, normally, until it's on to a new one, then they break for commercials, at which point the newscaster goes from telling about a child being murdered, to a quirky "Now a word from our sponsor", going straight into a McDonald's commercial. News channels do this because Americans get bored with long news stories. It's all about being entertained, always needing something new, otherwise we'll lose interest. Student ministries go above and beyond to doing the craziest gimmicks in youth services, because they need to captivate and hold the attention of their students, otherwise they'll clock out. I guess God isn't good enough to captivate a students attention or something. While teaching my Sunday school class, I listen as the students constantly talk about video games and favorite movies, but when I ask a question about the lesson, I get a blank stare. Sitting at dinner with a table full of family and friends the other night, I look down and everybody is on their phone. It just seems like a natural way of life. Recent studies have proven that FB and Twitter are more addictive than 1. Drugs 2. Sex and 3. Alcohol. Sadly, this is our world. It's a world of entertainment and it's taken Americans, especially the younger generation, myself included, as prisoners.

Sunday School Chronicles: My animated words.

You can run but you cannot hide. A saying that cannot be any truer. Problems do not just "go away". You can block them out, ignore them and do your very best to act like they don't exist, but the truth is, they don't go away. They will always be there, until you face them head on. December, I had to face something I have been running from, for two years. 

If you've been following the Sunday School Chronicles section of my blog, you'll know that I shared the very beginnings of how I got involved with kids ministry, which I will pick back up in the next Sunday School Chronicles post. This particular post seemed fitting for what I'm going to share. This is coming from my heart. When you're doing something you love, you ignore the amount of hours, dedication, sacrifice and commitment you invest into it. You're enjoying it. That's all that matters. This was the case for four years, with me in kids ministry. Nothing else mattered. I would devote hours upon hours, with projects and activities. I would create countless things to do. I can remember spending entire paychecks on supplies, curriculum, music and many other things for the Sunday School department. If you asked me, this was not a sacrifice to me. It was my passion and I had no problem or reservation in investing into it. It was also my heartbeat and unfortunately the enemy knew this. During this four year span, I would write a lot of our curriculum, as well as puppet scripts, dramas, musicals, etc. I remember in school, my teachers would tell my parents, "She needs to pursue something in writing. There's a talent there.". As I was writing our curriculum, among other things, my dad told me, "Charity, your gift is in writing and children's ministry. God gave you this talent. Don't ignore it.". Unfortunately, I did ignore it. Fortunately, God's a jealous God.

Two years ago, I started my business, Dainty Button. I never knew it would take off like it did or be as successful as it has been. It's been a great blessing in my life, but a distraction. I was tired. I had poured my heart into our kids ministry for four years and I was spent. My energy was gone and I was tired. I was looking for something different and look what popped up. Something to zap up the hours and minutes of my life and take my focus from what I know I was supposed to be doing. For the past two years I've seen something I've worked so hard at and invest so much into suffer, which is Graceland Kidz and children's ministry. My heart was somewhere else, entirely. I look back and it breaks my heart. I ask myself, "How could I have let this happen? How could four years of investment just mean nothing?". I have struggled so much with resentment in myself and even my business, for allowing this to effect something so beautiful and wonderful in my life, that was birthed from a deep burden. A year ago someone very impressionable upon my life, spoke something to me. I knew what they meant but I stubbornly blocked it out of my mind. Little did I know that a year later, that sacrifice would come very easily, for me. At that time in my life, it would've been a great sacrifice. The past two years I feel like I have ran a marathon. Running, running, running. And in December I could run, no more. You can't outrun God. You just can't. You can try with every ounce of energy you can muster up, but it's impossible. 

In November, the pastoral staff asked if the kids ministry was doing anything special for the Christmas program. I thought we could do a couple songs and read the Christmas story. It would be cute and simple. The Sunday school staff and parents were very persuasive in changing my mind. Two years ago, our kids ministry performed a Christmas musical, in which I wrote. It was the first musical I had ever written and it was a huge hit. Ironically, a month later I started my business. The church and staff remembered that and thought it would be nice to do something again. I cringed, inside. I did not want to do this. It was too much work and it was the holiday season, in which I was extremely busy. I remember telling God, "If it's meant to do a large program and I'm supposed to write it, then I need a sign.". Two nights later, I was woken up out of a dead sleep at 4 in the morning, with my mind racing. I knew that feeling and voice. I sat straight up out of bed, grabbed a pad of paper and pen and started writing. And writing. I wrote until the sun came up, tears streaming down my face. It was the first time I had written anything in two years. It was at that moment that I knew I had to quit running and face the music. This was my calling. Impacting children with my words. In December, I decided to return to school, finishing my degree, which is now journalism and use Dainty Button as a means to get myself through college.

There have been countless times that people have said, "Charity, you need to write a children's book.". Easier said than done. I remember, as a child, dreaming of writing a children's book. As I got older, the thought was not far from my mind, but I never really pursued or entertained it much. I have the tendency of sharing great plans and ideas with friends and family and not because I'm a liar, but life happens and those plans, sometimes get forgotten. In early January, as I sat with my parents sharing with them that I think I wanted to really pursue writing a children's book, I decided I would keep this to myself, until the time was right. I've had years of ideas for a book. My mind is an interesting place. Ha! Even though I have many ideas, for the past month, I've been diving into children's books, Disney and animated movies, Adventures in Odyssey, etc., getting inspiration, brainstorming and gathering more ideas. I've also prayed consistently about this. Once, I knew God had given me direction and a plan, I started looking for an illustrator. And guess what? I found one. I met with him, this afternoon. I delivered the story plot, as well as ideas of where I wanted this to go and we have officially begun the creative, illustrating and writing process of my first children's book, which will technically not be a "book" in the traditional format, but an action packed series of animated comic books, which will be mainstream Christian, focusing on real life situations that children face, while building character. We're hoping for it to hit the publisher this Spring. I'm unbelievably excited about this new chapter in my life, in which just like many other things, I will share this adventure with you, through my blog.

God's mercy and grace overwhelm me, at times. Two years of this little "detour" in my life, has taught me one thing. Mercy. No, two things. Don't be stupid and try and do things your way. His mercy far exceeds anything I can comprehend or fathom. I will never understand why He never gives up on us, but I'm so glad He doesn't. I can't imagine a world, with no mercy. I pray the words that fall on paper will show my gratitude.

Charity

Skirting Around

"I'm not a risk taker. I don't do plunging necklines or really short skirts. I try to stay as classy as possible 

and provide a little mystery." - Kristen Bell

Growing up in school, I was always asked, "Why do you always wear skirts?" and I would sheepishly say, "because" and quickly change the subject. I thought it would sound stupid if I said, "It's against my religion.". In Oklahoma EVERYBODY is religious, for the most part, so it would just bring up another question, followed with another question and I really didn't feel like getting into a religious debate over this issue at 10 years old. My dad gave me some very good advice when I was in school, as I mentioned how everybody asked why I always wore skirts and they made fun of me, especially when it was cold outside. They thought it was dumb that I wore a skirt, even though I had on tights and about 3 pairs of socks, in frigid 30 degree weather. The advice he gave me was this, "Charity, the next time someone asks you this, respond with, "Wouldn't it be really weird seeing all these boys walking around wearing skirts?". As I grew older, my dad gave me this great illustration. What signs represent the Women and Men's restroom? It's the universal symbol. It separates the women from 
the men. Simple as that. 

  

As I grew older, I could care less what others thought of how I dressed and why I only wore skirts. This could be because I was home schooled throughout high school, so my only "school" peers were my family. Ha! But as I started working a public job and going to college, when someone would ask, I would say, "I grew up only wearing skirts and it's just my preference.". I left it at that. I never went into a spill of the reasons behind it, unless someone was genuinely curious. When it comes to my religious beliefs, I've proceeded with caution. I strongly believe that your actions speak louder than your words and people will respect that. If the opportunity or door opens to discuss your faith and belief, anybody with common sense will sense that and all else will fall into place. I don't want others cramming their religious beliefs down my throat, and I would imagine they wouldn't want the same, either. I've learned that living in the melting pot of North America, everything goes. People ask because they're curious and even intrigued, not out of judgment. Trust me, me wearing a skirt all the time is extremely mundane and boring compared to everything else you see in San Francisco. Young girls (if you're reading this), a skirt stands out. It's classy, feminine and is a nice breath of fresh air for many, when they see you in a skirt. If girls can dye their hair every color under the sun and pierce every body part, I'm sure wearing a skirt all 
the time isn't such an eyesore. 




But what if you did say, "It's against my religion."? So what? The Muslims pray 5 times a day. The Jews don't eat certain types of food. Catholics walk around with ashes on their forehead, for an entire day, in reverence to "Ash Wednesday". Jehovah Witness don't believe in holidays. Monks take a vow of silence. Nuns take a vow of celibacy. Did you know that Senior Digambar Monks of Jainism, go naked? That'll make people be grateful to see you in a skirt all the time. Hundreds and thousands of other religions practice their beliefs with conviction. Wear it proud, ladies! 


Let's Not Skirt Around the Issue

Times are very different than when I was in school. Skirts are all the rage. Hmph, funny. In fact, within the last two years, they've trended tremendously. As always wearing skirts, I welcome this with open arms, as I'm sure any other skirt wearing lady does. With the help of my best friend, I decided to celebrate this. 

I'm a full time student, majoring in Journalism. In the meantime, I happen to have a little accessories business, which helps carry me through college, without starving. Ok, I might be a little dramatic, when I say that. I put two years of focus and dedication into this business, but life has a funny way of changing things and now, as I mentioned, it's a means to get me through college and a fabulous little hobby. Since going back to school (I've taken a couple years off), my friends and family have been extremely supportive and helpful. They have gone out of their way to help make my life a little easier, as I focus on my studies. Case in point: Deana (my best friend) happens to own a business So What Industries, which is tailor made men's business casual and dress shirts. She's absolutely amazing. Seriously. Last year, we partnered up and launched a men and boy's accessory collection with my little business, Dainty Button. This has been quite a hit, I might add. A couple weeks ago, I had this brainstorm after she had worn the most adorable maxi skirt and confessed to making it. What?!! Charity's little mind was going crazy with the possibilities. To sum this up, we put our heads together and have partnered together to design knit maxi skirts. This was perfect. It helped take the load off of me, while I finish school up this year, while meeting both of our needs. So, I design and she tailor makes them. Now before you think, "Oh, I can go buy that at Target.". Wrong. The difference is you're investing into two individuals, not a money hungry corporate business that hires little children to do their dirty work. Ok, I might be wrong about the little children part, but it drew a very nice picture, yeah? These are not some cute skirts we've found at wholesale and decided to resell them, nor are they cheaply made. You're helping a student get an education and a young woman make ends meet. And now that I've pitched this great sales pitch, let me continue with my point. The thing is, although skirts have trended, it's still difficult at times, to find really cute skirts that are just that perfect fit, while being super cute. I put these two into consideration, when I decided to do this little project and here's what Deana and I came up with. Please note, you can purchase these skirts at Dainty Button. Below, I've dissected each photo with what I've paired each skirt with. The explanation to this is following the photo gallery.

Tee: Target

Wrap: BCBG 

Skirt: Dainty Button

Tights: Forever 21

Boots: Steve Madden (These boots, I wear with EVERYTHING! They're great!)

Tee: Target

Skirt: Dainty Button

Scarf: Old Navy

Tee: H & M

Sweater Wrap: Nordstrom Rack

Skirt: Dainty Button

Blouse: Forever 21

Skirt: Dainty Button

And here's my partner in crime, Miss Deana. We make a good team!

When I posted the pictures on Facebook, I was asked if the entire ensembles were for sale. No, folks. I'm not that good. I just like fashion. I'm asked often, about my wardrobe and how do I think of putting certain colors and styles together. To be honest, I just throw things together. If it looks good, great! I hate a matchy matchy look. While I don't like a matchy matchy look, I also don't like looking like a complete hot mess. It all depends on how you shop and put things together. For example, I love Forever 21. In fact, I could spend a fortune in that store. You would hardly ever guess looking at my wardrobe that the majority of the ensemble is from Forever 21. Here's what I look for when I shop:

1. A busy skirt? Look for something solid. Too many patterns can make you look like a clown. The same thing applies to a blouse. 

2. Not matching is a GOOD thing. Matching is out. ALTHOUGH, you don't want to look like a crayon box. I try to keep to a color scheme. Example; earth tones, rich jewel tones offset with a little black, pastels with maybe a brown, grey and brown look good together, etc.

3. I try to mix my wardrobe up. A chameleon of sort. It keeps it interesting. 

4. A fedora or hat of some sort needs to be in your wardrobe, somewhere.

5. Accessorize but don't look like a walking Claire's. Add a cute belt, scarf, etc. 

Have you ever done a polyvore? You know those pictures you see in the fashion magazines that have different items pieced together, making one fabulous outfit? Ok, well there's a website for that. I created an account and started piecing. My username is CharityBrooke. It's so much fun! Here's a few things I put together, to give you an idea of what I might piece together.

Polyvore #1

This is more of a preppy look, but with these shoe options, the look can totally change.

Polyvore #2

The glasses, I'd probably pair with the green flats option.

Polyvore #3

This dress doesn't need much. Classy and a little understated is always nice, occasionally.

Polyvore #4

Brown and grey look great together!

Polyvore #5

Polyvore #6

I would put either one of these blouses with this skirt and the same for the shoes. Nautical is classic.

Polyvore #7

LAST ONE! You CANNOT forget a LBD. You can't go wrong with a pair of colorful shoes and a black dress. You just can't.

How about you try putting something together? Go check out Polyvore.com. It's a blast!

Let's have some fun, shall we?

Want a chance to win The Heather Maxi Maxine skirt (yes, I named it)? 

We're doing a little giveaway : ) Here's the simple rules:

An entry for each of these counts:

1 ENTRY = share this on Facebook Dainty Button on FB

2 ENTRIES= follow us on twitter Dainty Button on Twitter

3 ENTRIES = follow this blog and comment below that you follow

The giveaway ends Monday, February 6th at 11:59 PM (PST). Good luck!

And with these parting words of Pink, I will bid you goodbye...

"Cameron Diaz was so cute at the MTV Movie Awards when she pulled her skirt up and wiped her armpits."

Keep it classy, ladies.

Cheers!

Charity

The Dress

Have you ever been in a situation when sudden panic hits and you feel claustrophobic? I experienced this over the weekend. In a dressing room, in fact. I was having a girls night with my best friend and we decided to hit up the mall. We ventured into H & M, which is one of my most favorite stores and they were having a sale. Even better. I happened to see a dress I've had my eye on for awhile and was super happy to find it part of the sale. I love a good bargain! We were in a bit of a hurry, the store was getting ready to close but I knew I needed to try this dress on because H & M's sizes are so weird. Deana (my best friend) had already tried her clothes on and was headed to the line, which was already pretty long. I jumped inside the dressing room and slipped the dress on. It fit perfect. Done deal. As I went to take the dress off, it got stuck around my shoulders. I tugged and nothing. I tugged again. Nothing. "Hmmm. The dress fits, I had no trouble getting it ON. What's the deal? ". I tried again and nothing. I lowered the dress down, trying to figure out what was wrong. Again, I tried to get it off. It was stuck. I tried not to panic but there was no point. I started thinking of the worse scenarios. I'm going to have to be cut out of this dress. What if I tug it off and it gets stuck around my head and suffocates me? I could just hear the staff's conversation tomorrow, "Oh my God. You will not believe this. This girl came in last night and tried on this dress that she thought fit her but it didn't and she couldn't get it off. We had to cut it off of  her.". I quickly text Deana and waited. And waited. Finally, I called her only to get her voicemail, at which I remembered her phone was dead. I was faced with three options. One, ask the dressing room attendant, which happened to be a guy, to help me get it off and let's be honest, that would be so awkward but a very good conversation piece. Two, I could just yank it off, probably ripping it or as mentioned before, I might suffocate to death. Or three, I could go get my best friend and have her help me. I decided the logical option would be the latter. Poor Deana. I yanked her from the line, trying to get back to my dressing room before someone robbed me, where my handbag was at. Deana had no mercy. She was laughing so hard, which made me start laughing and I'm sure the guy outside was wondering why two females were stuck in a tiny dressing room, laughing, followed with "Ok, pull." and "IT'S STUCK!". The good news? We got the dress off. The bad news? I bought the next size up and tried it on, once we got back to the house, only to get the other one stuck. Yes, it happened again. Only this time, Deana would not help me. She made me get it off myself, telling me I had to learn how to get the dress off, because I may not have any assistance the next time I wore it. As I stumbled, panicked and struggled, my dear friend went to grab her camera. I was helpless. Stuck in a dress, trying to get it off without ripping it and she was snapping pictures.

This is the only decent one I could post.

I finally got it off! I was so confused because the dress fit perfectly but was such a pain to get off. I think someone needs to consult with H & M's design team, regarding this issue. I kept the dress and wore it to church on Sunday. Bold move, right?

All during service and eating dinner afterwards, all I could think about was, "I have to somehow, get this dress off when I get home.". I will not lie, I was in a state of panic all day. I guess I worried for nothing and my persistence paid off. Or I worried myself so much, I lost a couple inches, because I had no trouble getting it off when I got home.  If at first you don't succeed, try again or rip a perfectly beautiful dress. 

Cheers!

Charity

Sunday School Chronicles: I Got Played

The Sunday School Chronicles:

I'm by no means, a veteran Sunday School teacher. In fact, there's still so much that I want and NEED to learn about kids ministry. I have however, been over our church's kids ministry for 6 years. I helped birth a successful kids ministry from a home missions church in the heart of San Francisco. I've seen the good, bad and ugly. I've had food thrown at me. I've been cussed at. I've had to dodge fists from angry bus kids. I've gone into living rooms and helped bus kids get ready for Sunday school, as their mom was passed out on a couch with a hangover, from the night before. I've stood on the porch of a bus girls home, waiting for her, while in the meantime, her dad was doing a drug deal 5 feet in front of me. This is no cute Sunday school program. Over the past few years, I've had several individuals email, write and call me, asking how I've done it. Well, here it is. This is me, chronicling my 6 year (and counting) journey through this ministry God has called me to. I pray these chronicles will enlighten, encourage and motivate you.

I got played...

Six years ago, my sister asked me to cover her midweek kids class at Bible Study. I'm still covering for her, today.

I was not supposed to be involved with kids ministry. Or, so I thought. I was the youth pastor at our home missions church and enjoying it, very much. My sister was over the kids ministry. It was just how it was supposed to be. My sister, working at a preschool, was a natural for this job. I liked kids, but not enough to be over a kids ministry. Or, so I thought. Apparently, I don't think well. Our church was very small at this time, with not many children. Maybe 5, although I'm not sure one was actually a child. Maybe more of a little monster? When my sister asked me if I could cover for her because she had to work late, I agreed but had no clue what I was getting myself into. This is how it went down...

And the award for "Epic Fail Sunday School Teacher" goes to...

I'm pretty sure I was more scared of the kids, than they were scared of me. I had no clue what I was doing. I was used to teaching teenagers, making them do gross stuff, like chug a gallon of milk for a candy bar. I taught on Adam and Eve and I'm pretty sure I told it quicker than it took God to make them. They colored a picture and that was it. We sat there, just staring at each other. They asked me if they got snack and I told them, "water". They thought I was joking. I wasn't. What kind of Sunday School teacher doesn't even bring a snack? Me. I finally let them in the backyard to run wild, since my dad was preaching and I knew it would be a very long one. The backyard of the church was very small, guarded with a tall wood privacy fence, so they couldn't get far. Unless, they climbed over it. I should've known they were more than capable of that. When church dismissed, the kids were so happy to get to their parents. I don't know why.

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me...

I didn't give it much thought, since I was under the impression I had just covered for my sister and wouldn't have to worry about teaching another Sunday School class, the rest of my life. Was I in for a surprise. Apparently, God had something else in store. He's a funny guy. My sister had to work late again, the next week, except this time, she gave me a couple days notice, instead of two hours. I almost cried when she asked me. I could only picture those little faces just staring at me, across the room. Why did I tell her I would? Because, it was home missions and you do everything in home missions, if you're the pastor's kid, that's why. 

"We have no drummer. Can you play?'

"I can't even clap on beat. Sure."

"The usher isn't going to be here, tonight. I need you to do it."

"We have an usher?"

"You're singing, today."

"I'd rather gargle gravel, but ok."

"Oh yeah, you're running the soundboard."

"We have 5 people. Do we even need sound?"

"Your dad is sick. You're going to say a word."

"Do you care anything about this church?"

Can I get an "amen"?

Not a quitter...

I'm stubborn. VERY stubborn. I also, hate when I feel like I've failed at something. I'm not perfect but when I know I have the capability of doing better and I fail, I get mad. So, when my sister asked me to teach this second week, home girl wasn't playin'. I made up in my mind that I wasn't going to have 10 little eyes staring at me, as they drank their water. I went to the big dogs. I mean, dog. It's not like we had a pastoral staff, at this time. My dad was that dog. BIG DOG. Let me clarify. When I asked him if I could have some church money to get a few Sunday school supplies, I'm not sure who was more surprised. Him or I. He looked at me as if I had grown two heads. I explained to him, as if I knew what I was talking about, that in order to have an impacting kids ministry, in addition to water as a snack, we were going to need a few supplies. Again, he looked at me like I had grown two heads. He gave me the church card and told me to get what I needed. It's a really good thing I wasn't a seasoned Sunday school teacher, otherwise the church would still be paying off that bill. I made a trip to the Christian bookstore and stocked up. I had no clue what I was doing. I grabbed the first thing I could identify with, when I was a kid in Sunday school. The. Big. Giant. Felt. Board. I bought the whole thing. Every felt Bible character, animal, fruit, tree, flower, rod, Jesus sandal, you name it. This thing was going down. Oh, I wasn't done. I went and bought craft supplies and SNACK! Those poor little kids weren't going to have to drink water, again. I never stopped to even think, "Charity, why are you putting so much energy into this? You're only covering one class.". I had done a successful job of buying supplies, but I had no clue what to teach them. Let's see. I have like 3,492 Bible characters I can play with on this felt board. I decided to start with the basics. Adam and Eve. Yes, they heard it last week, but not with the super cool felt board. 

Hook, line and sinker...

I think I scared the kids. Pretty sure it was the fact they had something other than water, as snack. I had the whole enchilada. Songs, games, craft and when I brought out the felt board, I lost count of the "ooh's and ahh's". I seriously felt like a hero. I completely forgot about everything else going on around me, except bringing that story to life. There was no time to even go outside and play. Bummer.

When church was dismissed, we all just stood there, looking at each other. It dawned on me. I didn't want the kids to leave and they didn't want to leave. I could feel something pull at my heart and I knew it wasn't because I had brought in craft supplies, snack other than water or the very cool felt board. 

God has a funny and unique way of reeling you in. Sometimes, there's no tiptoeing through the tulips. It's right there like a neon sign, staring you right in the face, because God knows that individual is strong enough to accept it. Other times, it's subtle and gentle and sneaks up on you, without you even knowing it. All I know is, I got played.

The following week, I ASKED, if I could teach...

Until next week...

Cheers!

Charity