10 Books I Loved

I actually wrote most of this post back at the end of 2019 — a few months before the world flipped upside down, and (despite an enormous lack of sleep we were experiencing) I had a really fun and enjoyable reading year. So below are 10 books I loved from 2019. I’ll soon share my top 10 from 2020, and what I’m reading now.

I left the below paragraph just as I had written it back over a year and a half ago…because it was such a spotlight into the season of life we were in — spoiler: Henry sleeps now haha! Hallelujah!

Books, FamilyThe Judge FamilyApril 17, 2021Books, reading, book wormComment

Artisan Global: Sustainability through Collaboration

What if there was a way to partner with artisans globally in way that provided a sustainable market for products as well as the necessary resources and training to increase skillsets — what would this look like for areas experiencing poverty and lack of employment opportunities? This exact challenge is being tackled head on by the non-profit Artisan Global. This organization — founded by Lauren Shipley and Devon Feldmeth — is a creative agency that seeks to develop sustainable employment with international artisan businesses in post conflict areas.

The Judge FamilyDecember 6, 2018Comment

Dressember: a letter to my daughter on self-worth

As your Mommy, I’ve had the pleasure of seeing the goodness already in this world, and you are part of that. With my years, though, I’ve also seen that darkness exists around us, and the thought of it diminishing the light you carry is why I must share the following words with you. I write them with love, and pray that you’ll carry them with you on your brightest and lowest days…

The Judge FamilyNovember 30, 2018Comment

Noonday: A Gift Guide for Every Style

Last year, a good friend of ours introduced us to the ethical fashion brand, Noonday and we really fell in love with their mission. This Fall, we have the pleasure of having Katie Beard, Noonday Ambassador and style queen, on the blog to provide you with a personally curated Gift Guide for the women closest in your life. This is such a fun post, and will hopefully inspire and spark some ideas for purchasing with purpose this holiday season. There is truly something for everyone here!

The Judge FamilyNovember 8, 2018Comment

Unity Outfitters: The Sustainable Lingerie Brand

As you might expect with a namesake for a blog that includes “indigo," we are passionate about highlighting small businesses that are using existing natural resources and materials to ethically create products. We’ve always found the area of undergarments and lingerie to be a challenging one to navigate and find quality pieces and from fair trade sources. However, we were recently connected with the brand Unity Outfitters and their amazing and beautiful founder, Katina Gad. Unity Outfitters is a size-inclusive, ethically produced lingerie brand that uses natural dyes and responsibly sourced materials. Resources such as organic indigo, turmeric and even rose hips are used in the thoughtful dyeing process to produce the vibrant colors in all of the pieces.

The Watermelon We've Been Waiting For

A little time ago now we wrote a story about Nat Bradford and the work he’s doing to bring back some lost and forgotten edibles — edibles that would have been very prominent, especially in the Carolinas. He’s putting food that is thought to have dominated the menu of the day back on the table: Ground Nuts, Dutch Fork Pumpkins, Candy Roaster Squash, Carolina African Runner Peanuts and more.

Devine Inspiration: Caroline Cockfield

By now you know that Elleanor & Indigo is always on a quest. We are always searching for new things and wonderful people that we can learn about and talk to. Our local artists have been so willing to work with us and they have all been so much fun. Caroline Cockfield, southern-based painter, is no different.

Local Business, Small BusinessThe Judge FamilySeptember 20, 2018art, local, South Carolina, Columbia, SC, Cola, Paint Comments

9 Green Beauty Swaps for Sensitive Skin

Green Beauty ... that term is everywhere now, but until recently I didn't understand how beneficial clean, all-natural products were for my skincare. If you had asked me just a few years ago, I wouldn't even know where to begin to describe the benefits. I cleaned my skin regularly already and put products on it that seemed to feel good, so why would I need to change anything? Then this happened…

Blueberries & Abundance

I liken the abundance of life to the blueberry bush. Quite some time ago now we bought several blueberry bushes to plant in our yard. The blueberry needs a companion. You can't just plant one, the blueberry needs to cross-pollinate. It needs a partner bush. Like our lives we can't go alone, we need the company of others in order to grow and produce meaningful fruit. Through our lives this need for a companion is met, a spouse, a brother, sister, mother, father, cousin, co-worker or friend. The people we need to grow are out there for us.

FamilyThe Judge FamilyAugust 4, 2018Family, Blueberries, Growth, Gardening, Faith, Family Time, FruitComment

Liz Alig: The Fashion Forward, Fair Trade Brand

A few years ago, a surprise care package arrived at my front door that would not only introduce me to a knew ethically made fashion brand, but would change the way I looked at repurposed materials. My mom had thoughtfully curated a clothing item that she knew I would love and that matched my newfound journey of changing my purchasing habits. Excitedly ripping through the tissue paper around the garments, I found a pale blue, 1950's inspired dress with pleats and a the loveliest strappy back and button waist. The hour-glass silhouette was balanced by the lightest, softest material -- and to my sweet surprise was handmade by women entrepreneurs in Ghana, Africa using fabric from recycled flour sacks. It's truly my most loved, most worn and likely most complimented dress.

Gin From the Ground Up

We recently had the pleasure of sitting down with Traxler Littlejohn, owner, operator and head distiller at Nippitaty Distillery in Charleston, S.C. Like the cicada, Traxler found himself “underground” for 13 years as he worked in corporate Human Resources, only to emerge later with a reimagined dream job. After leaving the corporate world behind, in four years Traxler took an entirely new career path as a distiller and small business owner. It may have taken him 17 years to land his dream job, but just like the cicada, the best is yet to come.

The Root Collective: Who made your shoes?

If you've been following our blog journey over the last year, then you've likely heard me mention The Root Collective on many occasions. When people ask me about why I'm passionate about Ethical Fashion, TRC brand plays such a large role in shaping my heart and decision making about purchases.

A few years ago, I had stumbled across a boutique in one of our neighboring towns that sold apparel, shoes and jewelry that were from companies committed to making a positive impact in our world. I loved the concept and the fact that every piece had a story. Fast-forward several months and I heard about a "sip and shop" at the storefront with TRC Founder and CEO, Bethany Tran. I heard about this company only briefly, but I knew they were making adorable shoes that were changing lives, and I had to learn more.

Trove: A Brand that Delights in Dignity

I was recently introduced to the beautiful brand Trove, and have fallen in love with their business model and the variety they offer their customers. Founder and CEO, Jaclyn Dowdle, started Trove with the mission to provide sustainable clothing that was also stylish and affordable. The unique aspect of Trove is that they have a pre-order model that helps to cutdown on costs and make the price-point for customers more affordable! In other words, the customer chooses the style and fabric from Trove's website, and once purchased THEN the piece is produced and shipped! I love how that concept alone helps to cutdown on product waste as well!

Family & Strawberries

At times we may sound like a broken record. Yes, we love living in the South, and we'll continue to make sure that it's well known. Living here hasn't only introduced us to knew places and new faces, it's introduced us, and really more me, to a very deep rooted concept. Which is this: The importance of family can never be underestimated and each member of the family should be cherished.

FamilyThe Judge FamilyMay 9, 2018Family, Southern Living, Strawberry, Strawberry PickingComment

You & Me: The Collection

This month, one of our favorite jewelry companies, Sela Designs, released the You & Me collection. The founder and maker, Ashleigh, designed the most thoughtful pieces that can be shared with the younger girls in your life -- whether it's a daughter, granddaughter, neice, friend, god-daughter or otherwise, these pieces are meant to be conversation starters for those dear to you.

Pals Socks: Where Differences are Beautiful

A few weeks ago we were introduced to the sweetest company with the most amazing, world-changing mission: Pals Socks. A simple concept of the most adorable mismatched socks is teaching children and adults alike that the pieces of us that are different are actually our greatest attributes. Owner and founder Hannah Lavon designs sock friends that come in so many adorable pairs, to include dragons and unicorns, bears and bees, polar bears and penguins and so many more. From baby all the way up to adult sizes, the sweet socks are singing a manifesto that we don't all have to match -- in fact, that's what makes us great!

Good Reads: Southern Edition

I'm calling this the Southern Edition because the books I have chosen to highlight are uniquely tied to the South. Several are amazing, true to history, tales of conflict in the South. Conflict with key historical players and importance. The other is a work of fiction from an author who used the South as backdrop for so many of his novels and who called Beaufort, SC home.

"Wired" for Creativity

We are always talking about what to do next. Brainstorming the possibilities and discussing what both you, the reader, and quite honestly us, the authors, want to learn and read about next. Since we moved here now ten years ago we have noticed that our community's art scene has taken off like a wildfire. The Lowcountry certainly offers a beautiful landscape, with so many natural wonders and seasons that lend so much inspirations to artists. There is also so much beauty in the cultural landscapes found here, and the deep rooted history in a place that dates back to pre-Revolutionary times. So we decided that what we really wanted to do was start highlighting some of the amazing local artists that are right here in our backyard.

Home, BeautyThe Judge FamilyFebruary 15, 2018art, local, localartist, artist, wire, taxidermy, Charleston, South CarolinaComment

Suburban Boheme: Repurposed Vintage

It's such a pleasure to feature Kelli Goodloe of Suburban Boheme on the blog today! Kelli is an amazing seamstress and mastermind creative that takes clothing most of us would walk past in a store and reconstructs the fabric into beautiful and new silhouettes. Like a modern-day treasure hunter, Kelli seeks out unique vintage styles and dreams up stunning patterns, thoughtfully sewing each new product herself.

Sseko Designs: Fashion on a Mission

My Sseko story in some ways takes me back to 2012. I traveled to Uganda with my sister as part of a missions trip to work with orphans. I had big dreams of making a lasting impact on the life of one of the boys or girls there, but in reality they were the ones that changed me. There is so much joy in those little ones that have nothing. It broke me in the best way.

Fast forward to 2016 and I still couldn’t shake the thought of Uganda and what it meant to me. That year, I came home to a surprise gift from my husband: a purse from Sseko Designs. And to my complete joy, I learned how Sseko was making an impact on the lives of young girls in the heart of Uganda. It felt like my passion for this country and my love for ethical fashion had just intersected in the sweetest way.