i almost said no

When I saw the text pop up on my phone, I flicked it away.

It wasn’t asking anything bad, of course. Actually, it was a sweet offer from an even sweeter friend.

“Can I host a Noonday adoption fundraiser for you?”

I almost said no. I almost said no because I feel self-conscious about fundraising. But as any adoptive parent will tell you, adoption is expensive. And when you’re on a pastor/freelance writer salary, even as much as you scrimp and save and take on extra work, you just can’t get that adoption saving account high enough on your own.

I’m a big fan of Noonday Collection. (My husband can attest to that — I ask for it every Christmas.) The jewelry is my style and I’ve always loved that the business was started by an adoptive mom. The heart of the business, though, is what seals the deal for me: Men and women working for fair wages, so that financial stability would never be a reason for their children to become orphans.

So, in a moment of conviction, I grabbed my phone and texted her back.

“Yes, thank you.”

I’m excited about our trunk show because my two friends joining forces to host the party are also in the adoption process. It’s humbling — and empowering — to link arms with other women, looking to a brighter future, even from our little corner of Iowa.

So, consider this your invitation. Your invitation to check out the stunning fall + winter Noonday Collection line. Items are certified fair-trade, created by artisans around the world. Jewelry and accessories always feature natural resources used from each country of origin.

It’s tough to think about where our favorite items come from. For the past couple years, I’ve been (imperfectly) making the slow transition to ethical fashion. This means I often buy thrifted items, with the occasional fair-trade splurge. 🙂

Thankfully, Noonday has gorgeous items in every budget, and I got to play dress up with my Noonday ambassador friend stash as she prepares to host our show.

Here are a few looks we put together. Above, I’m wearing: The earrings are the Ombre Prism style ($38) and I love how they catch the light. Bracelets: La Noche ($38), gorgeous glass beads, made in Guatemala; Cosmos ($52), thread, metal, and glass, made in Guatemala.

The scarf is the so soft Arctic Dreams cowl, which is new just for the Noonday winter line. It’s warm + cozy, and 100 percent alpaca, handmade in Peru. It’s one of the higher-level items, so ask your hubby to order this for you for Christmas (you have until Oct. 31 to order!).

Above, I’m wearing the Tamia Bib necklace ($78) made of tagua seed from Ecuador. My friend Sara actually traveled to Ecuador with Noonday and worked with an artisan to create that necklace. Incredible, right? Seeing that photo makes it so real, thinking of the beautiful hands that worked on each piece before getting to us.

I paired the necklace with the Addis Bracelet ($30) made from upcycled artillery shells from Ethiopia and the Monaco Bracelet ($38) from India, made from ethically harvested bone and brass from India. You’ll see that I’m also wearing these charming silver Cubed Studs ($38) from Peru: mamas, these are perfect for grabby toddlers. And they’re so versatile, too!

The look above was a bit my style, and a few steps out of my comfort zone, too. I automatically gravitated toward the Sojourner Bag ($198). Total swoon – it’s made of leather and wool from India. But, the Indigo Silk Scarf + Waterfall necklace combo isn’t something I would probably do if I didn’t have a style-savvy friend encouraging me to try it. I’m also wearing the Moonrise Cuff ($72) made of horn and metal from Vietnam, Silver Steps ($34) black and silver wrap bracelet from India. I’m also wearing the Streamline earrings ($52) from Peru.

Above: Some affordable bracelets ($14!) for any budget.

When you shop, you can feel good about your purchases, knowing that you’re getting high-quality items, and that you’re supporting:

1) three families in the process of adopting here in Iowa

2) countless Noonday-employed women and families around the world

So, if you’re passionate about adoption, ethical shopping, and supporting global causes that help keep kids out of orphanages, please consider shopping our Noonday adoption fundraiser trunk show. You can order online with any of the links in this post and you have until Oct. 31 — get cracking on those Christmas gifts! 🙂