What it means to me

I am a proud book worm. My life is surrounded by great books. No wonder that the book drive has been very personal issue for me. I grew up having access to books. I remember as a first grader asking my dad to take me to the library. In Bosnia and Herzegovina we lived up in the hill ( Sarajevo is a valley) and our place was right under one of the Olympic mountains. We would walk home, I would sit and read it right away (all my books) and ask my dad to go return the books and get new ones. I know, I know I am a nerd but very proud of it. I feel not much has changed today. It's just that I have less time to read. It is definitely a fortune to have books and it has been my dream to own my little library. I have definitely started and I am building on the books that have been recommended, gifted or borrowed to me.

Today I wanted to share some of my current favorite books. They are not the current best sellers but they have definitely found themselves on that list before. So, it is never too late to get them and enrich your mind with ideas, inspiration, real life stories, issues and facts that have impact on our lives. Don't ignore and think that if something is not in your close proximity that it does not affect you. It's always better to be prepared, it will save you from ignorance. Yes,I said it! I believe that more information we acquire more we understand the world we live in.

So here it is:

Not only because we recently commemorated his birthday and his life work but just because he is one of the most amazing historical figures of all times. I say that out of the deepest respect to a man that has sacrificed everything in a respectful and peaceful manner. We still have so much to learn and this book greatly highlights his true dedication to human rights, peace and justice! I ll share some more in the future. Take this one, or share if you have read it. :) As you can see from the picture my copy is worn out, because it has been shared and recycled just the way I like it!

"Occasionally in life there are those moments of unutterable fulfillment which cannot be completely explained by those symbols called words. Their meaning can only be articulated by the inaudible language of the heart."

As you can see it is very inexpensive to purchase this book but the enrichment is priceless. Consider joining me in learning and getting inspired by amazing people

Books for Bosnia-North-American Initiative

I am enjoying the fact that people are philanthropic and willing to help when there is need. The last post was about my personal encouragement to friends to donate two books to the University of Sarajevo Library. The power of social media is amazing. Upon a short chat with one of my dear friends in Canada we decided that since we both feel very strongly about this book drive that we want to help. Now it's not just a book drive, it's a North American Initiative. I am so pumped right now. It is amazing how many people we can reach if we just ask. The fact that most of us have a lot of valuable college books that can be used somewhere or the resources to buy and send some is great. It shows the little things that we take for granted and the appreciativeness of a student across the ocean. It is the connection that my friend and I want to capture and emphasize. We encourage people to join our effort to build on the fortune of a diverse library. We also encourage to share this journey with us and send or post a picture on our facebook page called: Books for Bosnia-North American Initiative. We want to mark and draw attention to the stars of this initiative...YOU. We want to give you the spotlight you deserve and let you connect and inspire others to do the same.
As I know from my own experiences, once people see that others are doing it they are more likely to do it as well. So let this book sharing be a personal matter and let me thank you from the bottom of our heart.

Yours truly,

Zummie

Book drive

In the past couple of days I have spent thinking of ways how to encourage people to help me help the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina build up a library that has been burnt to the ground. I am talking about the Sarajevo National Library also called Vijecnica (Town Hall-which one was during Austrian-Hungarian rule). This beautiful building in the center of my home town has represented the rarest academic books and papers. The atrocities during the most recent war has deleted this pride of the city.

Today, 16 years after the war, the reconstruction is not completed yet. The Sarajevo citizens have not given up on the building and on the potential of this institution. As a part of the Humanity in Action organization, Bosnian students have started an initiative to ask for books to be donated. The wish is to contribute to a greater future of students but as well to the citizens of this wonderful country that I come from. It is with a great commitment and desire that I am writing this blog and ask of your assistance.

The organisation asks for two books to be donated to the University of Sarajevo.
Excerpt from the letter of request


"We kindly ask you for:
-  the  first  book, you send us to be a contemporary publication in one of  the world languages,
related to common knowledge in social or natural science (Philosophy, Law, Medicine, Literature
etc...),  which can benefit  our  students in many ways  (please see the list  of  suggestions on our
webpage)
- the  second book to be in your own language, related to your city,  culture,  history,  geography,
architecture etc...,  so that  our  library users  can benefit  from this  multilingual  and intercultural
exchange."

Here is the link to the website: www.books4vijecnica.com
if you want more information. They have a great summary of the Library, the meaning, the loss and the future. Check it out, I promise you will be inspired.

The address where the books should be sent is:
University of Sarajevo
Campus Zmaja od Bosne bb
71 000 Sarajevo
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Attn:  Mr. Muris Rahmanovic

So here I am asking for your college books, high school books or a donation of textbooks that you can find inexpensively on amazon.  For example: Introduction to Philosophy: Classical and Contemporary Readings, which might not be a lot of money for you but is a great deal for the students of my country.
Hop on the train to make a difference.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart and thank you for taking the time to read this blog and get informed. I appreciate you.

Recycled Fashion

Ever since I started to blog about Fair Trade Fashion and the value of organic clothing I pay much more attention to detail to retailers and what they are doing about it.
Today, I found out that H&M a leading affordable fashion retailer is bringing out recycled fashion to their stores. So how many of you would wear a recycled dress?

I took a look at the dresses and clothes that are coming into the stores and I really like them. They are fashionable and fun. This proves my point that recycled and organic cotton clothes are fun and beautiful. If more retailers would incorporate that it would make such a difference. I commend H&M for doing this and I hope you guys go out there to check it out!

Here is the link to the website:

http://www.hm.com/us/sustainablestyle#/sustainablestyle/

Let me know your thoughts and comments :)

Fair Fashion

It amazes me that there is not a lot of concern about the world we live in. As I posted in my last blog, every decision we make can make a difference. You have a choice. Are you going to change your habits and start recycling the plastic, paper and other materials. Are you going to try to fix things rather than buy new ones. Are you going to re-gift the furniture that you no longer need?

Most people don't ask themselves questions like that. Their whole world is circled just around them. As a matter of fact, it's filled with a lot of complaints. It is never enough. The NEED to have the newest thing amazes me. I need more, more and moreeeeeeeeeeeeeee. This blog has done some awakening for me. It's all these thoughts and feelings I have deep inside but I could not live by because of circumstances I found myself in. It takes some soul searching and determination as well as sacrifice to get on the path to be aware of your own choices.
In this new year let's try to be less selfish, less materialistic, less needy, less self centered but more giving, reasonable, inspiring and aware!!!

I am going to try to share some really good websites to buy some amazing fair trade clothes. These young people inspire me. When you get to this website, go to the about us section and read about their own motivation and hard work to make a difference in this world. I hope that it wont leave you untouched.

I have hopes for all of us(including me). That we will ask more questions, inquire more information and make the ethical decisions to buy consciously. I am not saying give up everything right now forever. But I am sure that once you start learning more that it will make you feel good.

http://www.autonomieproject.com/

check out this website for fair trade fashions. It has a wonderful selection of organic clothing. You can ask for prints that are by your own taste which allows you to be individual and different. Don't be a follower, be a leader!

Have fun, let me know what you guys think :)
Peace

The Fabric of Humanity

Please take some time to watch the video about an amazing woman and her business based on Fair Trade. It will definitely leave a mark on you.

http://www.vimeo.com/17848657

"At Maggie's Organics / Clean Clothes our mission is to produce and provide comfortable, durable, affordable and beautiful articles of apparel and accessories made from materials that restore, sustain and enhance the resources, including human, from which they are made."

Talking about inspiration. There is a person who is dedicated to have a business while helping and improving the whole cycle of production. Sometimes it is hard to put in words what difference this action makes, that's why I decided to share this video from their website. When you put faces to the issue as well to the positive things that this business is achieving it makes you feel better. The link to Maggie's organic website is:

http://www.maggiesorganics.com/index.php

The first time I ever watched this video it made me proud to know most of the people in the video. As a member of Bucknell Brigade, a student organization that in partnership with Center for Development of Central America (CDCA) provides community services to a small town outside of Managua called Nueva Vida, I was fortuned to travel there twice. I plan to go back because of the impressions that the people and the country have left on me. As an alumna, I try my best to talk to people about my experiences and ask to help this program make more changes in this amazing country. Step by step.

I encourage you to read more about Bucknell Brigade and CDCA. I will add the links where you can find it and maybe you want to be a part of this experience. It is amazing knowing that what you help/donate actually goes in the right hands.

Bucknell Brigade link:

http://www.bucknell.edu/x2013.xml

http://www.bucknell.edu/x2013.xml

CDCA website:

http://www.jhc-cdca.org/index.html

real people making real changes...chose to be one of them! join me and go to bed knowing that YOU did something amazing!

:)
Peace

Free Trade Fashion!

As an advocate of change I feel it is my responsibility to educate others about issues that I think are relevant to all of us. I am writing this not because I want to make someone feel bad, but rather to give a perspective and plant a seed in your mind.

I wanted to bring up an issue that we don't really pay attention to.It is the issue of the clothes we wear. Have you ever heard of fair trade? Where are your clothes made? Do you know? Are you aware that most of these clothes are made in sweatshops that provide horrible working conditions to the workers in the Third World? They get very low pay and sometimes they have to work 12-16 hours work shifts without a toilet break. Imagine being in their shoes.

These are just a couple of questions that I wish we all asked ourselves. I hope impact people that much to ask themselves these kinds of questions. Once these questions sink in, we might become much better shoppers. The difference between the clothes that are fair trade and the clothes that are not is in the change we create in the lives of others.

Today, when we are learning how to eat better and what we are eating I think we should ask ourselves what we are wearing and how to wear better. I know this might be a dream of mine, but I have met some amazing people that have been transformed through this experience.

I am guilty as well. I am a Fashionista, Maxinista and a deal stealer. Sometimes, I am more focused on the deal than on the story behind the clothes I am buying. I want to look good, I want a particular clothing item and I want it now. My closet is a testimony to it. I am starting from myself. It is the first step and it is called understanding the circumstances of where my clothes are made from. So, let's be more conscious, and let's do it together. Let's start looking where our clothes are made and question it...

I will dedicate the next few blogs to fair trade, organic clothing and WHAT WE CAN DO to contribute. I hope you all enjoy it and give me feedback.

How much are you willing to spend?

Are you a Fashionista or a Maxinista?

I love to see a well dressed woman and man. Without knowing the person it tells me two things:

1. The person cares about him/herself
2. The person dedicated some time in how the present him/herself

and on a side note...a clean looking and smelling person is always a plus! well it should be a MUST...

Investment in cleaning supplies is number one on the list. Washing yourself, putting some make up and doing your hair is high up there. It makes a woman feel good at the same time it is an easy eye catch for the opposite sex.
Number two is finding clothes that fit your style but that are in fashion. Fashion in my opinion is based on the individual. I find it boring to see everyone dressed the same. Ah..imagine everyone looking the same!!!! Look at what you have in your closet. Sometimes it's easier to keep buying new things but you (I AM SURE YOU DO) have some hidden treasures in your closet. Take a look! Try to maximize your look by using clothing that you already have and combine it with some new accessories! It's all about how you put the outfit together...it can make you look a million bucks.
And you know that's you

I am gonna post some links to some great websites to sign up. I find myself sometimes surprised how much sales are really going on. Who can afford buying a full priced item after all? I know I am not and as a matter of fact I refuse to. There is no need to, because fashion is not here just for a second, and for future reference it comes back at some point :))

so keep tuned..more to come!

Peace and Fashion,

Zummie