in honor of christmas...

Controversial Billboard Defaced

from ONE news/NZPA

http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/controversial-billboard-defaced-3313207

A church billboard showing Joseph and Mary in bed has been defaced, within four hours of going up.

On the billboard Mary and Joseph are in bed with Joseph looking down in a dejected manner and Mary looking disappointed.

The caption reads: "Poor Joseph. God is a hard act to follow."

The billboard, at St Matthew-in-the-City Church in Auckland, was almost entirely painted over by a man standing on his car on Thursday afternoon. A ONE News camera caught him in the act .

The church says the billboard intended to challenge stereotypes about the way that Jesus was conceived and get people talking about the Christmas story.

"We actually think God is about the power of love as shown in Jesus, which is something quite different than a literal man up in the sky," says Archdeacon Glynn Cardy.

The billboard has led Anglicans to fall out with other religions. It has, however, also received praise as well as the criticism.

Cardy says the church had received emails and phone calls since it made the public aware of the billboard on Tuesday.

"About 50% said they loved it, and about 50% said it was terribly offensive," he told NZPA.

"But that's out of about 20 responses - this is New Zealand."

The billboard, which has already sparked a complaint to the Advertising Standards Authority, has also raised the wrath of the traditional values pressure group Family First.

"The church can have its debate on the Virgin birth and its spiritual significance inside the church building, but to confront children and families with the concept as a street billboard is completely irresponsible and unnecessary," Family First national director Bob McCoskrie says.

"The church has failed to recognise that public billboards are exposed to all of the public, including children and families who may be offended by the material."

Catholic Church spokeswoman Lyndsay Freer says the image is inappropriate and disrespectful.

"It's flying in the face of our 2,000-year-old beliefs," he says.

The archdeacon says the plan behind the billboard was to lampoon the literal interpretation of the Christmas conception story.

"What we're trying to do is to get people to think more about what Christmas is all about," he told NZPA.

"Is it about a spiritual male God sending down sperm so a child would be born, or is it about the power of love in our midst as seen in Jesus?"

He says St Matthew-in-the-City is at the progressive end of the Christian continuum, and that he believes God is "more like a force but not a being in any sense".

The church is seeking a replacement billboard.

what do you think about the church's stance/billboard?

xmas list: lara miller

my second recommended designer for awesome xmas gifts is lara miller. lemme tell ya, this girl is super-cool and suuuuuper eco-friendly and we LOVE that! she is also a SAIC grad and is helping the chicago fashion industry in a big way! i'll just reference her site, bc she says it best herself!

i'll just reference her site, bc she says it best herself!

Fashioned from eco-friendly fibers such as organic cotton, hand-loomed bamboo, hemp and vegan silk, Lara's modular designs are created with a playful geometry that connects to the personalities of the women who wear them. Most garments can be wrapped, reversed, and most distinguishably flipped to reveal an entirely different look.

Acknowledging the impact that we all have on our environment, Lara aspires to preserve and respect our earth in every way possible. "I see my company as a way to support my community - not only by using organic materials while adhering to a “green” lifestyle and workspace - but also by manufacturing locally and working to sustain the sewn products industry in Chicago." 

these pieces are GORGEOUS and will become staples in your closet, not just disposable fashion. there are quite a few pieces on my wish list, but the first would be the "hudson dress" because it's so cute and versatile. you can create a few different dresses and only buy one piece!!! and it's simple and classy too. and like miss coco chanel said: "a girl should be two things: classy and fabulous." lara and her designs encompass those wise words completely.  

just this week, lara showed for the first time at NEW YORK FASHION WEEK! she was a featured designer at the GreenShows Eco-Fashion Week. how cool is that??!! this just goes to show you that wearing "green" clothing no longer means hemp sacks and hippie garb. green is the new black kids! it's very exciting. lara was also featured on oprah.com. chicago love!!!
http://www.oprah.com/article/style/fashion/20090914-orig-lara-miller

visit lara's site to see all her gorgeous work: http://www.laramiller.net/

you can join her group on facebook too! http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=7938938929&ref=ts

photo credits: helen berkun

LARA'S NYFW RUNWAY SHOW!!! S/S09

xmas list: anna hovet

for my first xmas list suggestion, i'm introducing my girl, anna hovet. anna and i went to school together at the school of the art institute of chicago. she is a very talented designer and started her company this year. her f/w 08 collection is out now and her s/s 09 will be shown in chicago very soon. 


anna's clothes are super-cool and very wearable. most of her pieces are reversible, which is a twofer!!! this is not just your regular sportswear. she designs with a street edge so you know you'll look like the coolest kid on the block. her jackets are so cute and her leggings are killer.

anna's clothes are sold at akira in chicago and picky girlz in grand forks, north dakota (no, that's not so random, she's from north dakota! you should hear her accent... oh for cute. lol.)


they are also sold on her site: www.annahovet.com

anna was recently featured in the september issue of lucky magazine. HOW FREAKING COOL IS THAT???!!!

join her group on facebook! 
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=102314240155


picture notes: jennifer hudson, yes the dreamgirl, has worn the "debra" jacket shown and the grey leggings, oh yeah, those are the "erin" leggings. ;) naturally i'm proud...

photo credits: rachel hanel. model: megan lewis.

xmas list: intro

so yeah, i'm already thinking about what i want for xmas. why? bc i like presents. i like giving presents and i like getting presents. so, i'm thinking about what i really want this year.

i will admit: i am usually spoiled with a TON of nice things. i'm a very fortunate girl.

but lately i've been cleaning and clearing and realizing how much STUFF i have that i simply do not need. not only does this effect the amount of space i have in my room (not much) but it makes me think about the effect my consumption has on the environment. i recycle like a fiend and i donate all my unwanted things to goodwill, so they can be reused and not thrown away.

>>>what if i just started out with less?<<<

now, those who know me know that this is not something i am usually a fan of... i'm a MORE IS MORE kind of girl. especially when it comes to clothes, shoes, accessories, EVERYTHING. but i am trying to be a more mindful consumer. not only is this beneficial to my pocketbook (ugh! recession! hate it!) but this also makes for more interesting purchases, really.

so, what i suggest this year, is for people to make more interesting purchases. no more abercrombie or bebe or whoever the kids are in to these days. try supporting small or local designers. these ppl are working their asses off to try and get their vision out to the world. it is NOT EASY if you're not a huge conglomerate company with millions upon millions of dollars in backing. plus the designs are soooooooo much cooler and will last longer than one season. these will become permanent wardrobe pieces. 

you will look much more chic and original.

secondly, maybe you love to shop and want to buy lots of gifts. that's cool too! i'm not hating!

why don't you try buying gifts that will in turn make contributions to charitable efforts? there are so many products that will donate a percentage of the cost, so do a google search! 

want to support breast cancer? clothe the homeless? feed the needy?

all doable AS YOU SHOP for awesome things! isn't that beautiful? i love multi-tasking...

a third idea is to try and be as earth friendly as possible. this starts with the gifts themselves and go all the way to the wrappings. there are plenty of designers and companies that create things that won't hurt mama earth in the process and that's super awesome!

who wants to hurt mama earth?! certainly not me...

on the earth friendly vibe, you can create your own gifts. what if you repurposed an old stretched out sweater in to an awesome cardigan for a friend? find an old shirt and specially embellish it. 

you can even go to goodwill to get your materials!

REDUCE REUSE RECYCLE PPL!!!

plus it's fun being creative! and generally speaking--->CHEAPER!

ppl love getting homemade things. you know how your mom still has your finger paintings from the first grade? it's like that. ppl will love seeing that you took the time and effort to make something 

especially for them. 

maybe you're learning how to knit. what's nicer for a friend than a snuggly scarf in their favorite color? warm and thoughtful. 

maybe you aren't so creative with your hands... a framed poem or note will touch a person's heart more than a pair of khakis from the gap...

it's about appreciating what you have, both materially and emotionally. i think that's kinda like the spirit of christmas or something? let's de-commercialize xmas, k?

so, in order to be helpful, i will be posting things that i find and like (a lot of which is already on my xmas list!) in order to help you make conscientious purchases this holiday season.

remember, it's not how much you buy someone (unless you have multiple kids, then the rule generally is to buy even amounts of presents for each kid. we count...) it's the thought you put in to the present, considering the person for whom you are buying and the product itself.

please enjoy my suggestions and if you have some of your own, let me know!