Holy cow! I feel like there is so much newness that went down at With Nini this past August and I'm not too sure if I can condense it all into a couple of paragraphs but I'll try my best. For starters, we've got a new market setup in the works by my boyfriend and his dad. They've worked super hard to bring my dream clothing rack to life and now they've passed the torch to me to finish them. So ya girl has been busy sanding, staining, and soon sealing eeek!
Secondly, we've started rolling out our Fall 2023 campaigns and just know that what you've seen on social media thus far is just the tip of the iceberg. Expect more zero waste goodness and new products! And last but not least, we've been working on new clothing tags to make your shopping experience more convenient. They're not yet attached to our clothing pieces but they will be super soon so keep your eyes peeled! Phew! That was a lot of info to cover and I'm pretty sure I forgot some things but point is, it's been an exciting and productive August!
Experiences: I've always been a concert girly. I love live music, dancing, and fangirling and for the first time ever, I got to do all three of those things at a music festival! I mean, it wasn't nearly as big as Coachella or Veld but I still had a great time watching some of my childhood favourites grace the stage at Rock the Park. It was such a dream to see both Ashanti and Mya IRL!
Music: I've been off of my Podcast game so we're switching out the Podcast category with Music again but this time, I want to put yall onto some K-pop. I've been addicted to NewJeans' latest mini album-- there's something so angelic and soothing about their songs. "ETA" is my favourite, what's yours? Have a listen:
Small Business Love: My mom-in-law just opened up her very own shop in St. Thomas, ON called, We Got Creative! It is a passion-run shop, meaning that it is run by creatives volunteering their time to make things happen. How special is that?! I am so honoured to be carrying a handful of my wire art pieces at We Got Creative and would absolutely love if you went in for a visit if you're ever in that area: 417 Wellington St, St Thomas, ON N5R 6G2
Obsessions: Gosh, I feel like my life has been chaotic lately, I haven't had much time to obsess over anything in particular. I guess one thing I can mention, even though we're in the early stages of my obsession, are ballet flats. Yeah, I'm into those and the thrift gods blessed me with a pair recently. So life has been grand y'all!
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Usually under this section I talk about new products at With Nini but as a small business that makes everything from scratch, we aren't able to pump out new product each and every month. So instead of hyping up a new product this month, I want to hype up a business milestone. As of July 1st, With Nini has officially started charging taxes woo!
And look, I know, everyone hates paying taxes. Myself included. But, as a business this is very exciting because that means we are growing, big girl moves are happening, hard work is paying off and that's a damn good feeling. We wouldn't have made it here if it weren't for you, so thank you always for the love and support!
Experiences: Unintentionally, there has been a lot of quality family time going on over here and I am not mad about it. Back in December, my family and I booked a cottage and the time finally came for us to enjoy it! We hung out, kayaked, played uno, and ate good for an entire weekend. It was a much needed recharge from the day to day hustle.
After that, my in-laws came down for a visit and we got the chance to explore the Canadian Museum of Nature in its entirety. Family is so important to me and I feel so lucky to have two so close to my heart.
Music: Switching out the Podcast category for Music because I cannot get enough of Flo's latest EP. If you don't know who Flo is, let me put you onto them. Flo is a 90's-influenced R&B trio based out of London, England and their vocals are incredible. Take a listen for yourself:
Small Business Love: Ok technically this product is not by a small business but I did purchase it from a small business so we're gonna run with it. Long story short, I found out that I might have become allergic to my go-to sunscreen, forcing me to find an alternative, and my goodness, was this a blessing in disguise.
I went to Terra20 knowing that they would have limited ingredients and natural options for me and after reading many reviews, I left with Attitude's Tinted Mineral Sunscreen A.K.A. the best sunscreen I've ever used in my life. It's lightweight, easy to spread, does not leave a white residue on my tan skin, and most importantly: does not irritate my skin!
That's all for this month's check-in! Nothing major but still worth sharing. Keep cool and stay hydrated friends!
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The Garden top and shorts are back and I am so proud of me for having them ready to go this early into the Summer season! Last year, I think I didn't have them out until August which is a bit late but hey, I'm new to this and am working on getting my seasonal releases down pat. We'll get there eventually but in the meantime, let's go soak up the sun in the cutest linen and organic cotton set! Peep the handmade and hand-pressed flower buttons by the way, I'll never get over those!
We're also bringing more zero waste headbands back to the shop! These bad boys are essential when it comes to summer because who wants to be all hot and sweaty with hair all up in your face? Not me!
Experiences: Honestly speaking, I've been experiencing burnout for a little while now so I've been allowing myself to play around and explore new things, just for fun and in hopes that it'll help pull me out of my slump.
So May and June (so far) have been filled with experiences like museums, paddle boating in a water labyrinth at Eco-Odyssee, restaurants, garage sales, friends, and a K-pop festival hosted by the Korean Cultural Centre Canada. Lots of fun has been going down and I do feel like my mindset is shifting, slowly but surely!
Podcasts: Behind You by Hailey Elizabeth has been in rotation for a little while now and I highly recommend it if you're a True Crime girlie like myself. I actually prefer listening to Hailey's podcast on Youtube.
Small business love: I met the kindest soul near the end of May and I've already told my friends about them AND have shared their business on my Instagram stories. I fear that I may seem a bit obsessive but really, I just feel inspired by what they do. Bestowed Cards is a passion project run by Kurt and 100% of their proceeds are donated to animal sanctuaries all over Ontario. Incredible, right? I left our conversation with knowledge, inspiration, and two super cute cards I can't wait to gift!
Obsession: I mean, is it an obsession if it's fully integrated into your lifestyle now? I'm not sure. But, what I do know is that I can't get enough of this Kale and Rice recipe. I like to add ground beef or tofu for a little extra umph because I'm a texture girlie through and through!
Now excuse me as I go fix myself a bowl of kale and rice because literally just talking about it has my tummy rumbling!]]>We partnered with StickerCanada to bring you the cutest waterproof stickers, truly perfect for decorating any flat surface with! These branded vinyl stickers will be freebies included in all online and in-person purchases as a lil thank you. Yay to shopping small!
Experiences: In an attempt to pull myself out of the funk I'm in, I've been trying lots of new things. Last month my partner and I went to Parc Omega on Earth Day to learn about wildlife and feed deer and elk. I left feeling present and grounded.
For my birthday, my partner and I went to Build-a-Bear for the first time. I thought it would be weird to go as an adult but it wasn't at all. It was actually such a fun, wholesome, and somewhat healing experience!
Podcasts: We're All Insane with Devorah has recently been added to my podcast rotation. A lot of the topics covered are quite heavy but are discussed in a light and easy to digest manner.
Small Business Love: Back in March I participated in the You Belong Market and met Connar of New Leaf Crafting and immediately fell in love with their crochet cat beanies. I've shared it via stories but I had to share it somewhere more permanent because it's just that cute!
Obsessions and Inspo: Ribbons. Bows. The whole ballet core aesthetic. Photo credit from left to right: Coveal Magazine Cover by Charlotte O'Shea, n/a, Pinterest @tariroxx.
]]>LET’S TALK ONLINE ORDERS + SHIPPING 📦✨
Specifically during One of a Kind’s Winter Show taking place November 24th - December 4th and what that period of time will look like! Right off the bat, I want to make it clear that our online shop (withnini.com) will continue to remain OPEN during the 11-day show. Meaning you can get your retail therapy (or Christmas shopping) on 24/7 in the comfort of your home, if you can’t make it to the show!
CLOTHING + ACCESSORIES
• clothing, collars, tote bags, and headbands are the only products coming with me to OOAK
• online orders including the above can be picked up at the show for free with discount code: ooakpickup OR shipped during the week of December 5th, after the show
WIRE ART
• we will not be bringing wire art with us to OOAK so if you’d like to snag one, we highly encourage you to place an order ASAP so that we can make and get your order to you before we leave for Toronto
• all wire art orders placed from November 19th to December 4th will be made and shipped out the week of December 5th, after the show
I may be able to ship out orders (including clothing, collars, tote bags, and headbands) while in Toronto but only a limited amount as we have very limited space in our car for online packing supplies. BUT I will do everything in my power to try and get your orders out to you in a timely manner, during or right after the show. Thank you so so much in advance for your patience and understanding friends!
Have some questions? Send them our way via DM or contact us here!
]]>If you're aiming to have a more ethical wardrobe, it is very much achievable. On top of that, there are so many ways you can meet that goal, with or without a limited budget!
This might be an overused expression but it's not wrong. The most ethical thing anyone can do is simply work with what's already in their wardrobe, even if it's from a fast fashion brand. You can pay respect to the fast fashion seamstress by taking care of your clothing, giving them a nice, long life of plenty of wear.
There are so many ways to shop secondhand nowadays that there is almost no excuse not to. You've got thrift stores, local consignment shops, Facebook Marketplace, Poshmark, Depop, and vintage resellers all over social media, shopping secondhand has never been so accessible!
By choosing to shop secondhand you are giving those pieces a second chance at life and preventing them from ending up in our landfills. An added bonus to creating an ethical wardrobe full of secondhand goodness is uniqueness. There's probably a pretty high chance that you are the only one in your neighborhood or maybe even in your city that owns that vintage find, how cool is that?
Now to be completely transparent, it is impossible to be 100% ethical but there are definitely brands out there that do their best in keeping waste at a minimum. There are brands out there that prioritize fair hours, work conditions, and proper living wages. These practices should be the norm and the go-to for those looking to add brand new pieces to their closet. With Nini is categorized as a low waste, ethical brand and we are damn proud!
If you follow us on social media, you'd know how awful I am with sign offs so let me leave you with one of my favourite quotes regarding ethical and eco-living: "We don't need a handful of people doing zero waste perfectly. We need millions of people doing it imperfectly." - Anne-Marie Bonneau
]]>I put up a poll on Instagram not too long ago to get an idea of how many of you celebrate Valentine's and surprisingly enough, most of you said you did! This was only a surprise to me because I feel like each year there are more people against the holiday. I for one, am for it. I love me a good 50% off heart shaped chocolate on February 15th so no complaints here. Ok, enough rambling, let's jump in (in no particular order)!
Remember, when you support a small business, an actual person does a happy dance. Happy (almost) Valentine's Day friends!
]]>We documented the entire process (well some of it because I'm a bad vlogger...) and made our very own Youtube documentary! "Documentary" might be a stretch of a term here but either way, it's a fun little video that shows you a little bit of what went down behind the scenes and how the Whimsy collection came to life.
This journey is very much yours as it is mine because let's be real friends, I would have never had the courage to take on such a hefty project if it weren't for your kindness, encouragement, and love! Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
]]>Today I thought it would be fun to share with you how I take my product pictures-- not because I think I've discovered anything groundbreaking or special but simply because I'm a newbie and you might be too! Why not share what I've learned so far right?
If you're new around here, let me give you a brief run down on my product photos-- all product photos are taken by me and most items are modeled by me as well. With Nini is really a one-woman show when it comes to modeling, photography, and graphic design!
Tripod
My best friend when it comes to photographing modeled items is my handy dandy tripod! I actually have two - a standard one that most photographers (or dad's from the 90's) have and a smaller "spider" tripod one. Both of them have adjustable legs which I really like.
Camera
My camera of choice is my iPhone, I used an old iPhone SE before recently upgrading to an iPhone 12 Mini! Since so much of my work takes place online, an iPhone is just so darn convenient. And with technology advancements, iPhone photos are getting closer and closer to being DSLR quality-- I say this with no actual photography experience, please don't hate be photographers!
Self-Timer
When you're the model and photographer, self-timer is truly a savor. Most cameras and smartphones come with a built-in self-timer feature so it is pretty accessible and easy to use. I like to set my iPhone to a 10 second timer because it gives me enough time to run to where I need to be and strike a few poses (on shutter mode).
Backdrop + Props
I prefer a minimal look for With Nini product photos, only because I feel like a simple white background really allows my products to pop! I've used blank walls, plain white blankets, textured white blankets and even white curtains as photo backgrounds before. I also like to play around with composition and poses with chairs/stools and dried florals.
Bonus: An Ergonomic Mat
Product photos require a lot of running around, standing in weird positions, and sometimes even balance. Basically, you're on your feet majority of the time. I found my feet and legs feeling extremely sore and tired after taking product photos, almost as if I had just finished a leg day at the gym. So this is where ergonomic mats come in-- I have one in my kitchen and I have one in my studio and boy, do they make a difference. Ergonomic mats just add a nice amount of cushion, perfect for my sensitive baby feet.
So there you have it folks! These are my go-to product photo essentials. They're not fancy and they're not always 100% professional but do they get the job done? Heck yes. And, not to toot my own horn or anything but I don't think they look too shabby either. You see, the nice thing about social media is that a lot of it is influenced by authenticity and relatability which ultimately means, people are okay with amateur photography work. Even if you're a business. It looks more real and raw and people actually find that charming nowadays.
So go easy on yourself, experiment with your photos, and have fun with it!
]]>I've always been interested in fashion and not to toot my own horn or anything but I do think that I was known as being the more "daring" fashionista in my teeny tiny hometown back in the day (I'm talking elementary school - high school, nothing crazy). Fashion just always played such a huge role in my life and how I chose to express myself but even so, I still sometimes experience moments of fashion self doubt.
So where does this self doubt stem from exactly? I think if you ask anyone why they're scared to wear those super cool flared pants they love or loud printed dress they adore, they'll probably say: judgement. And, I get it. I was once called a "try hard" for the way I dressed in 8th grade and I was once asked "what the hell are you wearing?" in high school. Those comments suck and they do hurt.
Even though young Nini put up a front and continued to wear whatever she wanted, it doesn't mean that these words don't haunt her occasionally. I mean yeah, I still think of them and yeah, I sometimes change out of outfits 3 times before going out in fear of looking "too loud" or "attention seeking" but you know what? 9 out of 10 times I REGRET not wearing the outfit I originally wanted to wear! That's right yall, I experience FOMO: the Fear of Missing Out... on cute outfit opportunities.
For me, the feeling of FOMO (in this case) hurts more than what anyone has to say about my clothes or outfits because well, it's self inflicted. I chose not to wear that outfit because I chose to let the fear of someone maybe saying something bad about it impact my decision. Now that sucks. Self doubt should never have that power over you.
Look, I am not all about that new year's resolution life but I did promise myself that I'd work on finding my style again and when I do, I'm going to rock it unapologetically. Life is way too short to not wear that dope ass outfit you know you look hot as heck in. Here are some things that have helped me face those fashion fears and semi-combat moments of self doubt:
I know these things are the definition of "easier said than done" but they're surely not impossible. If you practice this mindset daily, you will be one step closer to feeling more comfortable in your skin and sense of style. It's totally normal to doubt yourself but if you're doubting yourself because of other people's opinions... that's not okay. Not to be cheesy but I wholeheartedly mean it when I say: BE YOU! Even if that "you" is a tutu-wearing-20-something-year-old (I may or may not be talking about myself).
]]>How do you take your photos?
By far the most popular question that I receive and honestly, probably the most flattering question too! I don't use anything fancy to take my photos, I'm a strong believer in "working with what you've got." And, what I've got is an iPhone SE and a spider tripod that I balance on a stool. I told you it wasn't a fancy set-up but hey, does it work? Yes!
How do you edit your photos?
I don't edit With Nini photos too much. I typically use the app VSCO to increase or decrease the brightness/contrast/saturation. I try really hard to keep photos almost filter-free because I want the products to look true to what they look like in real life! All "hanger" photos found on all listings are unedited and unfiltered.
How did you know it was the right time to pursue With Nini full-time?
This one's always a tough question to answer because there wasn't a defying moment for me. I did it on a whim and it was scary but also liberating. And if we're going to be transparent here, I still don't know if I've made the right decision or not but I promised myself that I'd give this a fair shot so that's exactly what I'm doing. I'm also a strong believer that there really isn't a "right" time to do anything and that if you want to do something, why wait?
How did you get your foot in the door?
I gave Etsy a shot for a month and that was basically a fail. I can't blame Etsy though, I simply just didn't know the platform very well. And once I found more success selling through Instagram I ditched Etsy completely. The first time I actually felt like a "shop" was when I attended my first market back in January 2019 and essentially, that's how I got my foot in the door! I'm so thankful that the handmade and reselling community is so accepting and welcoming. Markets are a great way to gain exposure and network!
Where do you get your inventory?
As of right now (October 2020 to be exact), all of our clothing and accessories are sourced from various thrift stores. I shop at the big name thrifts and I also like to dabble into the small mom and pop thrifts too-- I'm not too picky!
I know there are a few more questions out there that I often receive but it seems that my brain has decided to turn into mush haha! Perhaps I'll do a part two someday but for now, these are my five most asked questions! I hope this post offers a bit of insight or encouragement to those wanting to pursue a side hustle.
Oh and I should probably also mention that I am still learning and growing as a business owner myself so answers to all questions here are based solely on my own experience. As I learn more, I hope to share more with you guys as well. Thanks for joining me on this wild journey!
]]>And now we're here. Still a very small shop but we're growing and trucking away. But this time, we have a better idea of where we want to take this and what we want this to become. I can probably ramble on and on about all of the ambitious goals I have for With Nini but I'll save that for another time.
Today I want to talk about things I wish I knew before I got to this point because hey, maybe you're in a position where you've got something good going but you're not sure if you should dive in head first quite yet or maybe, you're at the beginning stages of launching something incredible. Whatever the case may be, I want to share a little insight to hopefully ease the process for you!
This ones a bit obvious and if you talk to anyone who is an entrepreneur, I bet they'll use this expression at one point or another. To clarify, I knew I'd have to wear multiple hats prior to launching With Nini. In fact, here is a simplified conversation I probably had in my head before launching: "I need to source all of my own products? No problem, I love shopping. I need to take all of the product pictures myself? Great, I love taking photos. I have to be active on social media to keep my brand alive online? Easy, I'm on the Internet anyways!" Here's the kicker, when you run a business you don't just do the fun things you already love doing.
At some point, if you really want to take your business to the next level, you'll need to dabble in to things that might not be your forte whatsoever. You might have to be your own UPS delivery person, your own graphics designer, and your own accountant-- on top of being a buyer, photographer, and marketing specialist. I dove in to all of this the moment I decided to run With Nini full time and my advice to you is, think ahead. Take the time to learn these skills one at a time rather than all at once. Don't be a Jennifer (me).
...And that's okay! This one's more of a life tip in general but it totally applies to every industry too. I'm a very "community over competition" type of gal and when I first jumped into this industry I assumed everyone was like that. Don't get me wrong, I feel like 99% of the creatives and small shops I've connected with are super friendly and supportive but there is that 1% that's in it for financial security only, not friendship. And that is 100% okay!
If you're anything like me, you need to learn not to take it personal if someone within the community isn't interested in talking or grabbing coffee with you in between customers at markets. It's okay that their priorities are different than yours and you don't need to feel bitter or discouraged because of these differences.
I'm a rather social person, some might even describe me as a chatterbox. So sparking up conversation at a party isn't totally new to me but you know what is? Sparking up a conversation as a professional, as a business owner is. At markets I can be my authentic, bubbly, and clumsy self because in that scenario you're building almost a friendship-like connection but let's say you have to do a sales pitch or someone asks you to describe your business on the spot. What are you going to say? This is where having an elevator pitch is important. As a small business, a lot of people might not take you seriously so it is up to you to really sell yourself and your business.
Practice your elevator pitch as often as you can-- yes, this is going to feel super awkward at first but hey, you gotta start somewhere! Soon the dreaded "Tell me about your business" questions will be a breeze to answer. Know what you're saying and say it confidently!
There's so many other things I can add to this list but I won't because this blog would be a thousand pages long but regardless, I hope this gave you a little insight on what to expect if you're currently wanting to dive into the entrepreneur world. I should also mention that this blog was written solely based on my journey, so yours may look way different and that's totally normal and okay. Whatever you're looking to pursue... Good luck, friends! You've got this!
]]>This campaign is so important to us. Mental health is an every day hardship in many people's lives and often goes unnoticed. We want to let you know that we see you and we care about you and man, do we ever wish we could give you the biggest hug right now. We're not going to sugar coat it, living in this pandemic can be scary, lonely, and stressful but we cannot and will not let this virus win!
Let's continue to practice social distancing, the act of giving, and keep on spreading as much love as possible (from 6ft apart)! We're in this together and I for one, am a strong believer that together we can make a difference.
Last but not least, I want to throw in a huge thank you to those of you who have shown so much support for this campaign already. Even if you aren't able to place an order right now, I still really appreciate your Likes, Comments, and Shares. You guys are the best!
Stay safe loves!
]]>I'm so thankful that our shop lives online and can function *almost* as normal as possible. With that being said, there are some minor things we had to temporarily tweak in order to keep you and ourselves safe during this weird time.
Although these changes might sound like a bummer, we're choosing to look on the bright side! This change in pace gives us the opportunity to better connect with you guys through social media, video content, and TikTok - ok, just kidding about TikTok. We're not thaaat hip (yet).
In cheesy Jennifer fashion, I want to sign off this update with a big, fat thank you. Thank you for supporting With Nini. Thank you for being so kind and understanding. And most importantly, thank you for washing your hands and practicing social distancing. Together we can flatten the curve. Stay safe, loves!
]]>Before I lay out the written steps here, I should probably mention that I did make a Youtube video on this topic to give you guys a visual of how my thrift days tend to look. It's a little chaotic and all over the place but look, I'm no professional vlogger so please cut me some slack and enjoy my lame and sarcastic sense of humour. If reading's not your thang (no judgement here), this video is a vague but semi-entertaining way to get a jist of what it's like thrifting as a reseller:
Okay, now for all the readers out there. Let's breakdown, in better detail, what my thrifting process is like. Starting with the essentials or must-haves (in my opinion of course)!
As much as I want to look cute and let everyone know that I am a stylish 20-something year old, I think it is more important to be comfortable. You're there to literally shop until you drop (especially on sale days) and you definitely don't want anything to hold you back.
Okay, I know this is a weird combination here but they're both such small things, I felt like they didn't need their own separate paragraphs. Anyway, bring plenty of water to stay hydrated. That's just the key to survival in general. And, a new rule I've adopted is: have hand sanitizer with you at all times! I'm a gal with a weak immune system so this has become a must-have!
Look, you're shopping secondhand which is fantastic for your wallet and the environment. Go the extra mile and bring a reusable bag - not just when you're thrifting but whenever you're out and about! I highly recommend the reusable Ikea bags because those bad boys are huge and surprisingly sturdy!
Alright, now that we've covered some of my essentials, let's finally move on to the real breakdown! Yay!
Honestly the real step 1 is, grab a cart and brace yourself (especially on sale days). Shopping ahead of season is something I've only really started doing once With Nini became a part of my life. I'm not reinventing the wheel or doing anything revolutionary here but just like the big brands, you need to think ahead and stock up on items that will be in style next season.
This was actually something I struggled with at first. I've only had experience dressing myself and my body type so naturally I would gravitate towards those sizes. But, if you're looking to run an inclusive shop to any extent, it is important to check out all sections and sizes. Do your research, see what's trending for your demographic in all size categories and just try your damn best at the thrift store. And, I'm sure you're aware of this but I'll say it anyway: don't be discouraged if you can't find items in all size categories. Thrift stores are always a hit or miss!
As the wise Michael Jordan once said: "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take" - this statement is not just true in basketball, it's true with thrifting too. So take that shot, take some time out to groom through the men's and kid's section! You'll be surprised by the amount of oversized, Ariana Grande-esque sweaters you'll find in the men's section.
At this point, your cart should be full. At least mine would be because I quite literally throw everything in my cart because I know I'll be going through it all before purchasing anyway. My first tip for this step is to find a low traffic area in the store, like the book aisle or that random aisle that has mugs, dishes, and a weird selection of salt and pepper shakers. Once you've found your "quiet" spot, go through your entire cart! I like to pick out all the items that stand out the most to me, that I really, really like. Then, I create a "keep" pile on one end of my cart and a "no thank you" pile on the other end.
If you want to get the most bang for your buck, this part is important. Go through your "keep" pile items and check for rips, broken zippers, and stains. Then, check for brands and material information. All this information helps with determining the value of the item. During this process, I sometimes move items to the "no thank you" pile. And now, my least favourite school subject comes in: math. I add up the total cost of my "keep" pile. To be honest, I don't usually have a set budget in mind but I am still mindful of how much I want to invest in my shop in that particular week. If there's some wiggle room, I might add an item from the "no thank you" pile to the "keep" pile or vice versa.
Check out time, baby! After I've paid for my curated pile of pre-loved goodness, I always make sure to jot down the prices of each item in a spread sheet and then store my receipt in a safe place. As a business owner, no matter how big or small, keeping your receipts are a must. But, we won't go in to too much detail on that topic today. After a long day of thrifting, I like to remove all the tags and get the items ready to be cleaned.
And, tadah! That's my thrifting process. Nothing groundbreaking or out of the ordinary. Just a process and routine that has worked for me and my shop and maybe, it'll work for you too! To end this blog in a semi-exciting way, here's a thrift haul I filmed after an intense sale day at Value Village (aka. part 2 of the video above):
]]>I want to be transparent with you all and let you know right off the bat that we didn't just fly over to Cambodia to visit Animal Rescue Cambodia - although it was a priority of mine for sure! We went to Cambodia to visit family and to celebrate the 10 year anniversary of my partner and I. He had never been to Cambodia before and so, I saw this as an opportunity to introduce him to the real roots of my culture. While visiting Cambodia we made sure to dedicate one of our days to Animal Rescue Cambodia and honestly, that day might just be one of my favourites from the trip.
Fun Fact: We started the Scrunchie Project back in March 2019 after seeing devastating videos and articles on the growing dog meat trade in Asia. I immediately started brainstorming ideas on ways I could help these abused animals but I knew I wouldn't be able to run a decent campaign without some help from my way-too-dang-talented-for-her-own-good mother, Rom. I won't babble on too much on the details now since I already did that in the last blog but the point is... this project started way before we even decided to go to Cambodia in October 2019. This project was not an after thought. If anything, this campaign further encouraged me to make the trip out to Cambodia!
Phew, that was a long disclaimer. Let's get back in to talking about our experience with Animal Rescue Cambodia:
Prior to the trip, I was actively communicating with Animal Rescue Cambodia via email to arrange a time to meet them. I received prompt and sweet responses from both the general manager, Nikhil Mani and the founder, Tina Mayr - which I am so thankful for because I know they are very busy people. We ended up settling on Wednesday, October 9th at I believe, 11 AM, thus the day my life changed. Okay, that might be a little dramatic but it definitely was an experience that I will cherish forever.
When we arrived, we (my parents, my partner, and I) were welcomed with smiles, from both humans and dogs. Tina introduced us to her staff and brought us on a tour. We got to engage with animals looking for their forever homes, animals who are still recovering from unfortunate injuries from abuse, animals with disabilities, and animals that were just rescued the day before and are in line for a vet check up. Aside from meeting the animals, Tina also brought us to vet rooms, isolated areas for animals who are recovering from diseases (not contagious to humans), and where they store all their supplies. Tina did not hold back at all during the tour!
During our visit, Tina shared a lot of facts and heartbreaking stories with us. I want to share some of them as these stories really showcase how countries like Cambodia view animals. I'll make it brief:
These stories and facts are things I already knew but it is so different to actually see it with your own eyes. Even though I didn't witness any of the abuse, I got to witness the outcome- the cat limping from losing a paw from pointless and unfortunate events, the dog that hides in the corner because he can't trust humans from his previous experience. Seeing it all in person is so different from seeing it in a video or picture. Although it is very sad to see, it is the harsh reality we need to see. In order for change to be made, we must witness and acknowledge these horrible things and work together to create a long-term solution.
And that's exactly what Animal Rescue Cambodia is doing. They recognize the issue and they are making big moves to change the perspective of locals. Thanks to your generous donations to the Scrunchie Project we were able to raise a total of $213 US. Your donations will go towards the essentials, vet care, funding more local classes on how to properly care for animals, vaccine events, and rescues. Although the Scrunchie Project is over (for now), we are still strong advocates for Animal Rescue Cambodia and anyone fighting against animal abuse and neglect. If you would like to donate to our friends over at Animal Rescue Cambodia, please check out their website or better yet, visit them if you ever find yourself in Phnom Penh, Cambodia!
I want to say a big thank you to Tina and her amazing team at Animal Rescue Cambodia for taking the time out to show us around and really let us in on the work they do. We also want to congratulate them as they have recently closed down a dog slaughterhouse in Cambodia which is a huge step in the right direction! Thank you for all that you do Animal Rescue Cambodia!
Okay, one last thank you to those who participated or showed any sort of love for the Scrunchie Project... THANK YOU SO MUCH! Your support is soooo appreciated. Your kind words and generous donations fill my heart with joy. I'm so lucky to have the online community that I do.
]]>I won't go and on about how much I love my dog on here though - I already do that enough on my dog's Instagram page (yes, my dog has his own Instagram which has way more followers than I'll ever have on my personal account). Instead, I want to take some time out to talk about the campaign we’ve been running since March 2019 – inspired by my dog, Bear!
Now when we started this campaign, With Nini was a solid 2-3 months old. It was a big, ambitious idea since we had just started up ourselves but it was something that we wanted to try out simply because 1) we want to help animals and 2) my mom has a never-ending supply of left over fabrics that we felt we could make a difference with! So that’s when I approached the self-made, sewing queen herself (aka. my mom).
Rom, who is not just my mom but an extremely talented seamstress (no, I’m not bias, I swear), also has a huge soft spot when it comes to animals. My mom comes from poverty and understands “the struggle.” Together, we decided to collaborate and create the unofficially titled project, The Scrunchie Project!
Over the years, my mom has collected tons of left over fabrics at her alteration shop. We are putting these scrap pieces to use by making them in to super cute and trendy hair scrunchies! All scrunchies included in this campaign are made from recycled fabrics and with love by Rom. Yay for sustainability!
Half of the scrunchie proceeds will be going to/has partially already gone to, Animal Rescue Cambodia. Animal Rescue Cambodia is an animal protection organization we found through social media. After doing a whole lot of research, my mom and I decided that we wanted to help make a difference in Cambodia. Cambodia is a beautiful country that my mom was born in and I’ve been so lucky to have visited numerous times. Despite its beauty and rich culture, there are no animal protection laws and animal abuse is a widespread issue.
Animal Rescue Cambodia not only helps animals through veterinary support but they also help homeless animals in Cambodia find forever homes. One thing that really stood out to my mom and I is that their organization puts an emphasis on education and therefore, actively runs events which promotes and teaches proper animal care. We believe lack of knowledge in this realm is the root of the problem and can only be changed if people are willing to learn and understand the importance of proper pet care.
Our dog Bear is extremely spoiled and that’s exactly what we want for the animals in Cambodia. Please help us raise money for our animal friends in Cambodia by either donating directly to Animal Rescue Cambodia or by purchasing scrunchies handmade by Rom right from our online shop. The Scrunchie Project for Animal Rescue Cambodia will run until the end of September 2019. We are hoping to fly out to Cambodia in October to meet the ARC team and drop off the donations in-person! If those plans fall through, no worries – the donations will still make it to the Animal Rescue Cambodia team electronically and we will be sure to document the moment as this entire campaign is a team effort. We wouldn’t be able to do this without your constant support!
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