The Feminist Resistance Giveaway and Fundraiser

I am so excited to pair up with Lisa of @lalafauxbois and Color Theory Shop on the Feminist Resistance Giveaway! This is the giveaway where everyone wins. Most of us can admit that things feel pretty shitty right now, so instead of just complaining about it on the Internet, Lisa and I decided to use our powers for good (in addition to complaining about it on the Internet).

We've teamed up with 20 (!) small businesses, artists, and makers to offer two lucky winners each a prize pack filled with feminist swag. Instead of using social media as entries this time, though, we're asking for donations. Every $1 donated to Planned Parenthood equals one entry. Donate $10 and get 10 entries. You get the point. All you have to do is upload a screenshot of your donation and enter the amount in the widget below. Please note that if you'd rather donate to a different worthy cause, perhaps because you've already donated to Planned Parenthood this week or you feel more strongly about another, we'll gladly accept those as entries. We're aiming this toward Planned Parenthood because Lisa, our sponsors, and I all feel that women's reproductive rights and accessible health care are important, but there are a million causes that need our help right now. You can find a handy list of suggestions here.

Once you've donated, here's what you'll be entered to win:

Prize Pack #1

No Catcallin' Pin from Honey and the Hive | @honeyandthehive // Nasty Woman T-shirt and agenda from Google Ghost | @googleghost  //  Print from Design Squeeze | @designsqueeze // Fight Like a Girl hat from Queen for Dinner | @queenfordinner // Amelia pin from Doozie Bella | @dooziebella // Not Your Babe and Unicorn Pinata pins from Luella | @shop.luella // Feminist with a To-Do List notepad, pencils, and feminist century pin from Hello Holiday | @helloholiday  // Two vinyl stickers and pussy pin from Holly Oddly | @hollyoddly // Girls Supoort Girls pin from Daisy Natives | @daisynatives  // Four pins from Radical Buttons | @radicalbuttons 

OR

Prize Pack #2

Boss Babes coloring book and pin from Creature Type | @creaturetype // Pin and Sticker from Ectogasm | @ectogasm_art // Pin from Cry Baby Club | @thecrybabyclubofficial // Feminist T-shirt from Jen Zeano Designs | @jenzeanodesigns // Art print and Nasty Woman pin from Made Au Gold | @madeaugold //  Smash the Patriarchy necklace from Bang Up Betty | @bangupbetty // Patch from Little Arrow Shop | @littlearrowshop // Boss Babes Unite and boobs pins from Band of Weirdos | @bandofweirdos // T-shirt from Culture Flock | @cultureflock  // Nasty Woman pin from Kate Gabrielle | @kategabrielle //  Girl Boss pin from Red Bandana Pins | @redbandanapins

All you have to do to be entered to win is donate at least $1. That's it. You can upload a screenshot or a picture of your donation confirmation. Want to print it out and take a picture of your cute self holding it? Sure, go for it. As long as we can verify your donation, you're entered. We highly recommend following the amazing women involved as well. This giveaway is open to US residents only and ends at 11:59 pm PST on 02/27. Good luck!

Three Easy Things No. 1

This post makes me nervous to write, but it's the first of many. I had the pleasure of marching in the Women's March in Orange County on Saturday, and it was one of the most memorable days of my life. I've been completely apathetic toward politics my entire life, but it's been difficult to keep up that attitude these days. The march was incredible, but it also lit a fire under my ass. It was a good start, but I don't want that to be my last form of activism. I'm new to this, but I'm guessing that I'm not alone in not knowing where to start. To help myself get more informed and more involved, I'm creating this series of Three Easy Things to do each week. If you're looking for tips on how to ease into things, I hope that this will help you join me.

To kick things off, here are the absolute easiest things you can do this week:

1. Join the conversation: the first thing that I've done is be transparent in the fact that not only am interested in getting involved, but I'm way under-informed. I started seeking out friends who I know are politically aware, told them that I want to start doing more, and asked them for help. It's embarrassing to admit that I haven't been involved at all, but everyone I've spoken to so far has been more than eager to help. It's gotten a conversation going, given me a ton of helpful advice, and it's also made sure that I have people who will keep me accountable if I stay quiet.

2. Start learning and make it a routine: this past election was the first one I've ever voted in, and my excuse beforehand was that I didn't feel educated enough to vote. It was a lame excuse and an easy one to fix. I started by researching unbiased news sources (this chart is a couple of years old, but helpful) and subscribed to a few on a news aggregator app (I'm using Feedly right now, but am open to suggestions if you know a better one). I'm on my phone constantly, so reading news stories each morning is an easy thing to incorporate into my routine. One of my friends also suggested started with listening to NPR, which could not be easier. The NPR app is free and has options to listen to your local NPR station in addition to a ton of great podcasts. I listen to far too many podcasts daily, so as much I don't want to wait to listen to Reply All, it's not difficult to start my day off by listening to NPR.

3. Plan to put at least a few dollars aside to donate each month: I've been saying for too long that I'm broke and don't have enough money to donate. I say that, but I still buy coffee, food, and the occasional clothing item. I can skip a latte or a dress each month. I've already donated to Planned Parenthood, and I'm going to try to put together a list of other organizations to donate to. In the meantime, while you're doing your own research, figure out which organizations mean something to you and budget for at least $5 a month (or more if you can afford it). Every dollar helps.

Bonus: 
I'm writing this late in the day, but if you happen to read this before midnight, Speak Paul Ryan's office is conducting a survey on the Affordable Care Act. Voicing your concern is extremely easy.

1. Call (202) 225-0600.

2. Press 2 to submit to the poll3. Listen to a (very biased) recording about the bill to repeal ACA

4. Press 1 to support the ACA. You can also stay on the line to leave voicemail with your thoughts.


I want this series to be a guest series because not only do I (obviously) not have many answers, but I want to present suggestions from a variety of different people. If you would like to contribute, email me at room334blog@gmail.com OR if you know anyone who would be, please send them my way. This isn't a grab for more followers or anything, so contributors do not have to be bloggers!

*Special thanks to my friend Callie who offered me most of this advice to start, which I've now stolen, and to Marlen, who has been wonderful and has a Twitter full of helpful information and links.