February 24, 2009
Dignity Regained has been somewhat stagnant for a while now. As many of you know we moved our inventory out of our space above Eli’s Coffee Shop in Morton and have moved back to online only. We had a couple of reasons for doing this, but the biggest one is the much anticipated soon to be arrival of our first little one this coming summer. Along with my pregnancy has come very severe morning sickness that brought the shop to a halt and then set us back a bit. It was a bummer around the holiday shopping season.
But the desire for a bit of change starting brewing way before that. But I’ve been waiting, telling people I’m not exactly sure where we are headed. I’m really good at “jumping the gun” and following an idea too quickly and then feeling silly when I should have thought it out a little more. I don’t want to push things that shouldn’t be. So I’ve waited. But I think I finally know the direction in which we are headed. I’m not quite ready to share yet. I’ve still got some things to think through as well as pray about. But I know something big is coming, and it will be quite different while remaining the same altogether. Even though this particular idea just came tonight, I have a feeling it’s what I’ve been waiting to know. Keep your eye out. I hope to launch in the middle of April!
October 14, 2008
Road Trip Part One – Starting in Illinois, passing through
Indiana, Ohio, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine
Part Two – Starting in Maine, passing through
Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania
Then one big long day back to Illinois from Philly.
October 3, 2008
Even though the store is out of sight this week while we are travelling, I’m still thinking about it and our purposes. I know the economy is tight and a lot is up in the air right now. This has reflected in the store and what we have been able to give in the last couple of months. “Just barely breaking even” is part of my weekly vocab. But then I read stories that break my heart and know that if the store gives, and tries to be faithful to fulfill one of our purposes and hope it will work out ok. (Last time the store took that leap, it came back to us the next day!) I hope this touches your heart as well…
Yesterday I was reading the blogs I frequent. One of my favs on my Google Reader is My Marrakesh written by a lovely woman named Maryam. I’m always loving the Moroccan inspiration that she gives. Currently she is visiting Rwanda and sharing some stories on her blog about what she is learning. Please read her last few posts here and here and consider giving what you might be able to. Her words ring true, “In a different dark life, in a different dark space, it could have been you, in Vestine’s place. It could have been mein Vestine’s place.” Your donation would go to AVEGA, which is a Rwandan NGO dedicated to widows of the genocide. If you would like to give, you can do a PayPal transfer to Tammy.Cody@gmail.com, or if you would like to send a check, email me directly Tammy@dignityregained.org and I’ll let you know where you can send it, (checks can be written to “Dignity Regained”.) Or if you are a Peoria local, stop by the shop next week and see me about giving to AVEGA. Dignity Regained is going to start it off by giving $100. If you’d like to send Maryam a note you can reach her at maryam@mtds.com.
*Within the first hour we have already gotten the first donation!
September 30, 2008
In a comment from the last post, Fia pointed out the film Call + Response. I’ve been on the mailing list for this film however Brian and I will be travelling the weekend it comes out so it slipped my mind to post about it. So thanks Fia! If you live near one of the cities where it will be playing please check it out and let me know how it went. I hope that it inspires a lot of people to make love and concern for our world an action.
Also.. the store (online and in Morton) will be closed from October 3rd to the 12th. We are taking a much needed road trip to the East Coast. I’ve never been east of Ohio, (except for visiting Washington DC last year, but I felt like I was in a city of concrete and cars so I don’t feel like I’ve seen much). Among our stops will be Niagara Falls,Toah Nipi, camping at Acadia National Park, friends in Maine, a night and day in Boston, a couple nights in Philadelphia, and many a mile and hour on the road. (That’s why we bought a Toyota Yaris.) I’m sure we’ll take lots of pictures to post!
September 29, 2008
Feather Clips from Say Ooh
September 3, 2008
Dresses, bags, tablecloths..all at least 40% off!
August 15, 2008
Haha! That’s right. We soon will have a section online and in store for the kiddos in your life.
Advice that many people have given me is, “carry more things for children”. It was more difficult to do that than I thought it would be, because I don’t have any yet. So I’m just starting with, ”If I had a child, how would I dress them and what would I want them to play with…” One of my biggest fears about having children is having a house full of plastics toys that get played with once. I know that we will probably end up with a few, but my goal is to not let it get out of hand.
Wonderful knit toys, including ice cream cone rattles, veggie rattles, and knit tools.
Anyway! That is just one of my fears. Another is what they are wearing. Not just because of what they will look like, but also what kinds of toxins are going to be on their little bodies. I’m on a search for 100% Organic apparel. I’ll let you know what we go with, a few are on the radar!
Thanks for your support!
T
August 4, 2008
I am always thrilled to find Fair Trade companies that carry products with great designs, patterns and price. I just place an order for some fun new home decor items. Thought I would share a sample with you…
Zen Zen from Bali.
Keep your eyes peeled for them in store and online!
Tammy
