go beyond yourself.

I've been working on promised.joy's Christmas Line for what seems like forever. I started it in the early weeks of Baby, and then Baby had me sick for weeks. Therefore, I've just recently gotten back in to the swing of things.

I love Christmas. I mean. Really. Love. I'm one of those that people hate because I'm counting down from the day after last year's, and starting Christmas music as early as October. I just can't get enough of it.

Well this Christmas, I'm super excited to share with you something that is dear to my heart. A way we can all give back this Holiday season, and hopefully continue to pay it forward. promised.joy will be partnering with E & co., an accessory line dedicated to helping women in Chennai, India get off the street and back on their feet!

My beautiful, sweet friend Emily (above) is the founder and has such an amazing heart. I wish we lived closer so I could glean from her. This is what she says about E & co. :

Well, we would be lying if we said we had it all figured out but nothing has been more exciting than watching the company unfold into what it is today.

It all started with an idea to help street vendors in India, handcrafting their own items, grow their business off the street in order to help support themselves along with their families.

So, we booked a flight to India and we came across a group of women and their families living on the side of the road in the outskirts of Chennai handcrafting these beautiful necklaces!

Thus, the start of E & co.

With the purchase of every necklace, part of the proceeds will be going back to these women who have already been paid fairly for their craft by us, "E & co.". The proceeds coming from you is just an added bonus!

We plan on seeing these women through being able to sufficiently feed their families as well as put a roof over their heads.

We have BIG dreams for E & co. and plan on offering a wider variety of accessories as well as dabbling in the world of textiles but we feel that helping these women is a great place to start.

It only takes small steps to make a BIG difference.

So beautifully said, right? So here's the fun part! promised.joy will be partnering with E & co. through this Holiday Season. From every sale in the shop, 10% will be given to E & co. I foresee raising a lot for them and I'm SO excited I can hardly stand it!

So tell all your friends, and even the family dog! And remember to visit the E & co. website for more information on who they are, what they love doing, and how you can help all year 'round!

love & let's make a difference,
e.

a swedish wedding {part 2}

Thursday came and went. We spent most of the day in Gothenburg- a main city 45 minutes away from Alingsas. We shopped until we dropped. Almost literally. And then it was Friday. Time for mani/pedi's and to decorate the reception hall. But of course we strolled the streets and ate more delicious food :)

Seriously, you guys. The wedding was gorgeous. The church was amazing. The ceremony was fun (even though I don't speak Swedish), and the reception was joyous. I LOVE that I got to be a part of it, and I will cherish the memories made there forever until I convince my hubby to move there :)

 Sunday they had a small get together for brunch and gift opening. People in Sweden are cute gift wrappers- I'll just say that. And they're so hospitable. Basically, I love Swedes.

Our goodbyes were tear-filled and a little heart achy. No one ever likes saying goodbye. Especially when you don't know when you'll see them again. But I believe in us. We'll be together again soon!

Oh yeah. I forgot to mention. Our dinner at the wedding? Moose.

love & memories,
e.

a swedish wedding {part 1}

As promised, I'm about to show you my trip to Sweden. Warning: I took TONS of pictures. Tons. I've gone through them again and again, and still have quite a bit to show :) I mean, come on. It was Sweden for crying out loud! And it was beautiful. I mean, seriously amazing. I live there in my pretend world. And I'm never leaving.

Katie and I share a love of two important things. Coffee and shopping. Needless to say, we were very content in Alingsas (a-ling-sauce). A small city with this amazing "city center", which just happened to be where we were staying the whole time. All these sweet shops on the main level of the buildings, darling apartments and lofts above them. I mean, could it be any sweeter?!

 

Julia had to work for the first 2 and 1/2 days we were there, but when she wasn't working we experienced a Swedish grocery store {more different than you might think} and had a "cozy tuesday" which is usually a Friday and a Swedish family night. We made Swedish tacos. On which Julia preceded to put banana slices! Ha! We were loving it, so we made it stop so we could take a picture.

On Wednesday evening we took a little drive. 15 minutes outside of Alingsas, in to a small community among green hilly lands. Mikael and Julia have bought a home. And omg. It. is. beautiful.

Right? Yeah... not jealous at all.

Ok, loves. More to come tomorrow!!

love & fika,
e.

O the places you'll go

You guys. I've been halfway around the world (or so it feels, at least) and back and I have SO many fun things to tell you and amazing photos to show you.

I also have a little bug + jet lag which is keeping me from having very much energy. So it may be a while. Here is a little sneak peek :)

landing in Minneapolis

landing in Amsterdam

landing in Sweden

love & travel,
e.

Counting down

This summer is coming to an end. And for the first time {ever} in my life, I'm really looking forward to Fall. It's always been my favorite season- because of the colors, holidays, and smells... But I LOVE sunshine- which there's usually more of in the summertime!

I'm counting down to a couple things...

In just a few hours I'll be headed to the Brown County Fair with my honey for a fun, end-of-summer tradition here in good ol' Aberdabber. The tradition is the fair- not us going. So maybe that will become a tradition :)

In five days the school year starts back up again. Meaning my job as a lunch lady resumes. Excited to see the kiddos and have more of a routine again for sure!

And lastly, I leave for Sweden in 15 days! AH! My dear friend Julia, who was in my wedding, is having a wedding of her own and I have the honor to be a part of her big day. I can hardly control my excitement :)

What are you counting down to as this summer's doors are closing?

love,
e.

memories.

i woke up today longing for the nations. i just spent hours looking through pictures from the places i've been and the memories made me laugh and cry and i hurt in my heart for the oppressed and weary people of our world. aren't these people beautiful? we are called to show them the love of Jesus and bring Joy in to their hearts.

Both this, and the picture below were from my time in Bangladesh. My favorite country to date.

These two are from when I was in Thailand. Above- a Karen (origin: Burma) woman showing off her hand-woven blankets. Below- school kids chasing bubbles :)

Oscar loved my sunglasses. He was a sweet, sweet boy. Both of these are from my time spent in Venezuela at an orphanage. I would go back in a heartbeat if I could.

I always love seeing the stands and markets in other countries. A kind of simplicity about it that I like. From my time in Honduras- at another orphanage.

 

In Peru- this day was not on our "schedule". We just made a trip in to the slums and played with some kids. My favorite day of the whole trip. Below you can see the stairs on a church just stop mid-air. This indicates how high the water gets in the rainy season. Many lose homes and loved ones at that time of year from all the water.

{I'm missing pictures from Taiwan, China, and Mexico. But I have been pondering memories from those trips as well}

What tugs at your heart-strings?