Binkies and Briefcases

You guys…shhh…don’t tell anyone yet, but

I am working on something amazing behind the scenes and I might need your help in a few weeks. Yes, it does have to do with this. I will let you know more as soon as I can. All I can say right now is that it is time for the voices of moms to be heard, and I will do everything in my power to get them out there, but I’m not going to be able to do it without you.

In the meantime, in the midst of a media firestorm, things have actually been pretty normal around here. That is one of the great parts about living in Amish Country. People will celebrate your accomplishments with you, but life goes on just the same and no one treats anyone any differently.

So, even though our story has made its way onto The Huffington Post and into Elle and Redbook and Today.com, and Good Morning America, and even crossed the borders to the UK, Canada, and Australia, I’m still here washing dishes, changing diapers, and doing my thing being a mom and a wife. 

The kids couldn’t care less about any of it. They are just having fun being kids, which is exactly the way it should be.

So, my apologies to Good Morning America, but this was actually the highlight of our October so far:

I cannot thank you enough for your continued support along this crazy journey!

If anyone had told me just a few weeks ago that I was going to go from being a middle school teacher, to being diagnosed with a brain lesion, to becoming international news, I would have looked at them like they had three heads. This still does not feel quite like my story. It is almost like watching it happen to someone else.

I have no idea where God is planning to take us now, but I’m starting to get a clearer picture, and I think that maybe this is just the beginning. We will ride this wave together as far as it will take us, and I am so glad to have the opportunity to bring you along with me!

For the past two weeks, life has gotten more than a little crazy. I have heard from more retailers than I can count, television producers, magazines, etc. It turns out, the world is actually paying very close attention to Mommy Bloggers. Who knew? When I pulled out my phone and started snapping pictures, I certainly never expected that blog post to become international news, but it did. So here we are. 

I am still dealing with my own health issues on top of everyday life. As you know, being a mom of three is no small task in itself.

In the midst of all of the crazy, I feel very fortunate to have been able to make some connections with other moms who share my concern about providing our girls with better clothing options. One of those moms was Sharon, a founding member and mom behind the clothing company Girls Will Be. Girls Will Be is a family-owned company that Sharon founded with her own siblings when they noticed the same problems with shorts manufactured for girls that I did. They wanted to offer girls shorts that were not overly baggy, like the ones in the boy’s department, but that did have a longer inseam, functioning pockets, and some cool other features I will tell you about in a minute. Sharon was kind enough to send two pairs of shorts and two t-shirts for my girls to test. This is not a sponsored post because, other than the clothing you see here, I received no monetary compensation. Sharon just wanted to let her clothes speak for themselves.

We received the Be Bold Tee in a size 2T (infant/toddler size). We also received the Be Unique Tee, the Perfect Play Shorts, and the Casual Cargo Shorts. All of the clothes Abby is wearing are a size 6/7.

What I loved:

• Although I have two super girly girls, it was nice to see some variety besides pink and purple. Actually, that was the very first thing my husband noted that he was relieved to see when we opened the package.
• The big girl t-shirt was tagless, which is a big deal around here.
• The clothes are made in the US
• I have to confess, I thought the shorts were going to be too big. Abby is a tall and skinny kid. When we first put them on, it looked like she would swim in them. But because of the drawstring on the Perfect Play Shorts and the adjustable waist on the cargo shorts, both pairs fit her perfectly. And since there is plenty of room to grow, I think she will easily be able to wear them again next year. After that they can be passed on to Penny, so we might get 4 years in a row out of these shorts.
• They sure must be comfy. The shirts are 100% cotton and pre-washed to minimize shrinkage. Abby actually insisted on sleeping in her Perfect Play Shorts and her new t-shirt instead of regular pajamas.
• Although there appears to be a button on the front of the cargo shorts, it is actually a slide, so Abby is easily able to get them on and off herself to use the bathroom.
• The length is perfect on her.
• I loved the idea of a Designer of the Month. Right now it is Zoe, who is 10 and designed the Be Mighty shirt.
• They seem to wear well. I squirted a good deal of mustard on the Perfect Play Shorts to test for stain removal. All of it came out in one wash.

What Abby loved:

• Abby, who is in kindergarten, loved the idea of getting a package in the mail.
• She also loved how comfortable the clothes were, and would not take them off, even insisting on sleeping in them.
• She was very excited to see that the cargo shorts had real, functioning belt loops. This never even crossed my mind until she squealed, “I can wear a real belt if I want to?!” and I realized that most of her pants actually do not have belt loops, or they have a decorative belt sewn in.
• Pockets. Real, actual pockets that are large enough to put things in.

Cons:

• Most sizing options currently only range from 4-14, although there are a few onesies for infants.
• Because Girls Will Be is a small family-owned company and they produce their clothes here in the USA, the price point is a little higher than you will find at a large retail store. Right now the clothes range in price from $18-$34.

But, because Sharon over at Girls Will Be is so stinkin’ nice, she has offered all Binkies and Briefcases readers 10% off your purchases through 10/22. Just use the code BINKIES10 at checkout.

If you want to support small, family-owned business that manufacture their products in the USA and get some seriously adorable and modest options for your girls, definitely check out this company!

And don’t forget to hop over and like the Girls Will Be Facebook page.

Congratulations to Girls Will Be for receiving the first ever #ModestMavens stamp of approval!

My hope is to continue working with both large and small scale manufacturers to test clothing and offer honest feedback, so that when I tell you that something has been #ModestMaven approved and you see the dragonfly, you know my girls have tested it themselves and it passed with flying colors!