#SustainableSunday with Paisley + Sparrow...

Happy #SustainableSunday, y'all! This week, I have to share with you my new greatest find: Paisley + Sparrow. I have to admit, I'm a bit jealous of Jen, the founder because her shop is exactly the type of shop that I one day hope to open!

After a year spent working with ministries and non-profits around the world, she returned to the US with a sense of purpose and a need to continue to help the women (some of whom were subjected to sex trade, some of whom are HIV positive and trying to raise families) create a better life. It was from this drive that Paisley + Sparrow was born. Now, Jen has paired up with a number of fair trade companies (many of which, I've shared with you here: Purpose Jewelry and Mata Traders, to name a few) and has created a beautifully curated collection of clothing, jewelry, home goods and more... all of which were handmade by women who are being paid a fair working wage and receiving counseling, medical care, and the therapies that they need to live better lives.

She was kind enough to send me a pair of the Soresa earrings (from Raven + Lily). These beautiful earrings were made in Ethiopia from beads that have been made from melted down and recycled bullet casings. How cool is that? I just can't get over how awesome it is when something that was created to cause hurt and harm can metamorphose into something peaceful and lovely.

Keep your eyes peeled... you may be able to snag a pair of Soresa earrings for yourself soon!

What's sustainable about this outfit?

: the earrings are fair trade and were handmade from recycled bullet casings

: the tank top is second-hand/purchased in a thrift store

: rings and bracelet were handmade from ethically sourced materials

... and how cool is this location? I was driving home from a lunch with Chicago native friends that I met on base in Germany and whizzed right past this abandoned greenhouse. I had to turn around and double back to get to it! Such a cool spot, but very creepy! The tarps that compose the greenhouse walls were loose and rippling in the wind. I kept thinking that I was seeing people walk around out of the corner of my eye! The ghost hunter in me had a field day in here!