Foxy fun

A Free Press article inspired me to try something fun and spontaneous today. I read about the Foxy Shoppe on the weekend, and stopped by there (at 87 King St.) on my way home from a meeting downtown this morning.  Supporting local businesses is important to me, so I wanted to check this place out...

As soon as I walked in, I met Pamela, who owns the Foxy Shoppe (I think her last name is Fox).  I told her I was feeling a little flattened from a few  challenging things happening simultaneously in my life.  She told me that I'd come to the right place.  I guess she was right because I left with a spring in my step and a little giggle under my breath.


From the outside, the Foxy Shoppe looks like a lingerie store.  But its so much more... I tried on a vintage style dress WITH A CRINOLINE!!! I cannot tell you how fun it was to put that dress on and spin around in front of the mirror!  I also tried on this blue number because Pamela said it was a great colour for me.  I think she told me I was lovely 6 times during our short time together.  Her soft spoken little kindnesses were timed just right!


This store is all about fun, fancy dresses and lots of things to help women feel confident and fun. What caught my eye about the article in the Free Press was that the store wants to help women feel good about being women, celebrating all their curves and femininity.

I am definitely planning to return, and next time (since I now know what to expect) I will buy a fun party dress. (Lisa, if you're reading this, I'm hoping that New Years Eve could be a wear-your-new-party-dress kind of affair?)

I hope some of you Winnipeggers will go visit the Foxy Shoppe and support Pamela.  Her blog tells a little bit about her dream for this little boutique, and I hope our city could help it be one of those dreams that comes true.

You can like The Foxy Shoppe on FB - there are giveaways on there every once in a while and updates about new inventory.  Stop in for a browse around when you're in the Exchange. Just so you know...  apparently they are getting a lot more dresses in over the next couple of weeks.

oh, and by the way, if you're someone who asks about where goods originate, you'll be happy to know that Pamela is committed to buying Canadian or continental wherever she can.  She even has a couple of local designers showcased in the store. The fact that she does  her purchasing with a conscience sealed the deal for me, I know I'll be back!

burn out

The ethics class I recently took discussed the importance of self care for anyone in a care-providing role; teaching us essentially that we have an ethical responsibility to care for ourselves. This fits into the counselling ethic criteria of non maleficence - 'at the very least, do no harm'.

We can actually wreak havoc in others' lives if we end up burned out, numb, or overwhelmed....we can do significant harm. If we are in a position of power or authority, we will likely abuse it or mis-handle it when we are in burn out or acute stress.

A lesson life is teaching me is that we can confuse self care and self protection. Genuine self care requires genuine community.

Caring for one another is a continuous circle, and I am seeing the importance of nurturing and preserving that circle, giving priority to restoring the smallest of gaps because of the high price of inattention or avoidance.

2009 was the year of learning about burn out from so many sources and so many contexts that my heart aches for the many sadnesses.

May 2010 be the year of learning about renewal, refreshment, invitation, healing, and wholeness.

For thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel;

In returning and rest you shall be saved

C'est ma fete!

I've had a great birthday today. The best gift of all? I'm tempted to say family and friends, because they are wonderful and i did spend time with some of each today! I treasure the amazing people in my life. And I saw my daughter in the Jr. band and choir concert - that was also a great treat.

But the gift on my mind right now? TIME. or maybe GRACE.

Time heals deep, deep wounds. Grace causes us to remember who we once were and recognize when our old self comes back from an extended vacation.

there's this awesome blue rodeo song called 'til i am myself again' - (are there any un-awesome blue rodeo songs?) the song talks about confidence just disappearing one day ... as soon as the song comes on, i start to cry... If I listened to it now, I might still cry, but I think it would be a thankful cry.

i like the light better.

I posted an entry the other day. After I posted it, a friend encouraged me to remove it, saying one of the illustrations I used might be misunderstood. I believed him, so I removed it. I’m thankful for that honest confrontation. You know someone is a real friend when they talk to you instead of about you.

I've examined my motives in writing that post. I knew that I was in a sad, preoccupied, and even self-absorbed place when I wrote the post. I thought that might have impaired my judgment, but I also thought about how the illustration wasn’t the point; the point was the point- and it is aimed at me along with anyone else it might challenge.

The post was about community, about how we treat each other, courage, and the misuse of power. The point was to encourage thinking about how we use power… and the consequences of misusing it. Call it bulldozing people, crushing people, or oppression. Or you could call it robbing people of dignity. This is likely a good topic for North Americans to reflect on. We have more power than the rest of the world. Add being wealthy and white and you have even more power.

If we are going to take seriously the idea of offering dignity to all (as Jesus did), then we have to think about lots of everyday choices. I’m not saying this from a perspective of judgment, either…. I have a long way to go and lots of changes I’d like to make. We have to think of where we purchase goods, coffee, clothing, brands, parent companies, travel destinations.. the list goes on and on.

And we have to consider how we treat each other. If we’re willing to make up our own rules in relationships in order to avoid taking responsibility, if we’re willing to rob people of dignity and say it’s the only way, if we can’t prioritize walking toward each other – then what hope is there for us? For community? What hope is there that we’ll use all that influence we wield for GOOD?

The post referenced the story of David and Bathsheba, and talked about how Nathan had courageously confronted David about his actions and misuse of power. I wrote about how we could sure use more Nathans among us. (My friend was Nathan-esque!) I also said that David, who recognized his offense and took responsibility, was courageous. We could use more Davids among us too.

These topics have had me thinking a lot. I know that I have a bit of a rebellious spirit that likes to challenge and be challenged. There is a place for railing against injustice and not being complacent. Even ‘small’ injustices should be challenged if we’re ever going to address the major abuse of power that characterizes our world. If we’re going to be committed to dignity, it has to be more than just words – it takes courageous actions.

But there is also a time and place for ‘letting go and letting God’. I have to think more about how and when you know what time it is. I’m thankful for the circumstances that have caused me to be thinking about injustice and oppression – they have been preparing me for the year ahead. I have so much to learn and I’m so excited about the opportunity before us. The last year of my life has changed me forever. I think the next one will too. I hope the changes cause me to resemble Jesus more.

I've spent my adult life (it seems) thinking on lots of ways we could improve things - in our home, our society, our world. I've tried to engage in real practices that make a difference, however meagre. Sometimes this inner voice has made me second guess, because I can do so little that there might not be a point. But I can't seem to just look after me and mine. I always seem to end up thinking about the greater consequences of our actions. And while I know I can't save the world, I have this unshakeable desire to do all I can to be in league with the One who does.

Words and Actions

I've been wondering quite a bit about a lot of things lately.. here's one. I hope some of you will comment with your thoughts and enlighten me with wise insights...


How have you responded at times when the words and actions of others in your life haven't matched? How about when the incongruence has a direct (non positive) impact on you?