*Update! We’ve had such a rewarding and positive response, that we’re continuing our charity percentage through 2018 and beyond as well!
We’re all friends here, right? I ask because I don’t want you to judge me too badly for this next statement. To be 100% candid, I’m over it. I’m over the social media number chasing. I’m over pictures of myself when in reality I’m just a behind the scenes kind of girl. I’m over buying things for picture perfect parties that barely anyone comes to. I’m over wanting to have free weekends but feeling pressured to live up to the blogging name and find things to post that seem cool enough. I’m just… over it!
I love my job, and I worked SUPER hard to even call this my job to begin with. But honestly, people are lying to you if they pretend like everything is perfect online. I’m even lying to you if it’s ever seemed like things are always nice and tidy here. I’ve talked with friends, with Jared, and with myself (more times out loud than what’s socially acceptable), and I’m not quite sure what the answer is for getting out of this chasing numbers/work funk, but what I do know is that getting your mind off of yourself and focusing on others is ALWAYS a good idea. To be honest, I hate being defined as an Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, or Facebook number. I miss the days when things felt more open and honest.
It’s genuinely heartbreaking to me when I look at the sorrow, pain, sickness, and injustice going on around the world and hit publish on a post about painting macarons. It’s not that I’m blind or naive to the world, it’s because it’s MY JOB. And I really love getting to create things to share with you here, but I can’t just quit or ignore it to dwell on the bitter the happenings of the world. This is supposed to be a space that inspires, that’s the whole point. Instead, I think there’s a real misconception of that from a reader’s perspective (myself included) when we look to others in the online space and compare, wonder, or criticize in weak or scary moments.
After several heart to hearts with my best friend Brittni of Paper & Stitch, we decided we that we need to proactively be a part of the change that we want to see. To start, I plan to be a part of changing the blogging game by giving back. For the entire year, every sponsored campaign that Sugar & Cloth is a part of, we will donate 5% percent of our earnings to charity. Because the best thing you can when you can do when you lose sight is to start thinking of others more than yourself.
And I’m not a one man machine, here. I wanted Jared and Kayla to feel equally invested in making a difference with their hard work when we make a choice to create something new, or to take on a new partnership. At the end of the day, I may be the voice and face behind what you read here, but Kayla and Jared are the super hardworking, kind, selfless, team that help makes it all come to life along with me.
Here’s where the money is going and what we a chose to work towards–
Ashley’s Charity of Choice | Max Burdette Fibrolamellar Cancer Research Foundation
Many of you may already know that we’ve had several battles with cancer among my family members, most recently being my sweet cousin Max that passed away from fibrolamellar cancer at age 17. To keep his memory alive, a charity has been started in his name that donates to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital for finding a cure for fibrolamellar in his name. To join in the cause, you can also donate here.
Jared’s Charity of Choice | The First Tee
This charity organization really hit home with me as an advocate for kids and someone who was really passionate about the virtues of golf and trying new things outside of your comfort zone growing up. I love the idea of giving under-privileged and disabled kids the ability to get out and get involved in a activity that challenges and teaches them the game of golf by learning skills such as patience, dedication, respect, and positivity in a manner that they can then carry through life.
As for the rest of the year–
It’s often easy to give money, but it’s not nearly as easy to make the sacrifice of giving up your time, so we’ve got quite a few other things we’re scheming up for volunteering in person in 2017. We’re wanting to do more hands on volunteering with local organizations, as well as making a direct impact in people’s lives– like we did when adopting a family for Christmas.
What are some of your favorite ways to make and impact? I would LOVE to hear your experiences and stories on this to open my eyes a little!
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I love the honesty in your posts. I just found you and am enjoying reading about what it takes to run a social media site. Regarding giving, as your little on grows (trust me, it goes fast!! ), you become even more aware. When my daughter was in private school we were perfectly unaware of the needs of public school kids. Then my kids no longer wanted to go to private school and the first winter shocked me. Children wearing flip flops and tshirts when it was snowing! We checked at tge school and found that the need for coats and shoes was dire. So for two years we received donations of coats and shoes and bought clothes. We had to have a rental truck transfer all the items. The school finally turned us away…they had way too many. The rest we donated to a local shelter for abused and neglected kids. In all, over 2 years, we outfitted 375 children with full 7 day wardrobes. Coats, shoes. Pants, understudy, pajamas…All of it. It was approx 12,500. Out of pocket and worth every penny. Our home has always been a safe place for my kids’ friends to come and hang out, get food or sleep. As your children/child grow….it gets less about things and more about experiences. Enjoy every second! And share away!! ❤
Karen, you are absolutely incredible! What an inspiration you are! I love that you have such a heart for giving, sharing and helping. Even better than that, you’re teaching your children to do the same. Keep it up!!
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Keep up the awesome work! It’s so important to be aware of what needs fixing and to support change in the world, while also doing what you love and sharing beauty… bc the world needs more beauty always. I love that you’re doing both! My favorite way to give support is helping organizations that defend ethical labor and/or support small businesses in developing countries. As someone who loves my job, I want to help improve working conditions for everyone in any small way I can.
I love this post and somehow missed it before. But I love that you and your team are giving back in such a positive way. I love to volunteer and currently will only work full time in jobs that are with non-profits. On the side I hustle writing and with photography, but it makes me happy that my full time career is currently helping those in need.
I’m right there with you Ashley. I love blogging, but it’s taken up a lot of my time. My life isn’t a beautifully, light filled, curated Instagram feed, and I must say it gets annoying trying to keep up with everything. It touches my heart that you are donating 5% of all sponsored campaigns to charity. We all need to contribute to better the world in some way. This is a heart warming and inspiring post. Thank you so much for sharing.
Thank you so much for the encouragement, Mary. It feels so good to know we aren’t alone in this! xo
I was on your site looking for an idea that you posted but instead the title of this post caught my attention and I am blown away. I have followed your journey for a while now .. you continue to inspire me. Give back girl and continue to inspire and be the change you want to see I love love that. I grew up in a less fortunate and a misunderstood part of this globe and to see every day that people are looking to change things for the better and to break the walls I just admire them. Big love ❤️ way to go team sugar and cloth
Makes our day, Mai! We adore you, too! xo
Love this! It was a pleasure meeting you at SXSW over the weekend! Loved your authenticity and openness it was so refreshing and appreciated:)
I was so touched by all the women and inspired by Kristen Bell’s talk that it put in my heart to do something similar to my blog and made me realize the exact same thing you said above! I’ve been brainstorming ways to give back through my blog since that talk!
Thanks for being a trailblazer and inspiration to all of us.
❤️Molly
Totally makes my day, Molly! Thank you so much for the words of encouragement and reminding me that we’re all in this together! xo
Hi! I’m new to your site, but seriously, already finding it very inspirational. I too, am a behind-the-scenes kind of person. So, one thing I do in order to satisfy my need to create as well as doing something good for others is ADOPT A CLASSROOM. Well, sort of. My great nephew is in kindergarten and my niece is a Homeroom Mom. So, she kind of adopted me as the Homeroom Aunt! (I didn’t have children of my own.) So, I am currently working on brightly colored Easter baskets for 19 children! It’s a lot of work and not cheap and I’m enjoying every single minute of it! Some of these kids don’t really have much and they will enjoy receiving this basket SO MUCH – which makes me SO HAPPY!
Hi Linda, so glad you stopped by. This is such a great idea and so sweet! Thanks for sharing the idea, we will definitely be looking into it!
I really appreciate this post. Thanks for sharing!
So glad! xo
Love that you’re doing this! I’ve been putting my video/hosting skills to good use for charity.
So glad! It’s been an amazing change this year so far! xo
Well Done! for all of it. you reflect the feeling i had at the end of the year. I had this whole post lined up on xmas gifts and I just couldn’t post it. happy happy spending posting was just way out of line on where i was personally (decluttering for a house move) and the state of the world. its good to know I am not alone, and i like your decision to be positive in tackling going forward. inspirational
GIRL. You so get it! I had the exact same thoughts and posted about it on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/p/BOyVurvAisG/).
Really love that you are honest and upfront about your thoughts. And really really love how you guys are giving back. We can be the change in 2017! Go us!
Hi Ashley jus joined your Instagram account. As a newbie to the ins and outs of creative business such as yours I Am not a maestro…I think we all get stuck envisioning what we intended for the business originally and yes it’s always hard work having someone believe that you “can”…Forget the problems…Your business is successful in its own right set by your own standards alone unique in every way…It’s a vehicle to something else so wat that something else mean for you??? You have taken a wonderful step by picking your charities, great for business these days…Good luck
Ashley this is such a great post! #1, It’s a really wonderful idea to give back to charity with the blog!
#2 I totally know what you mean about posting pretty pictures on instagram when a mass shooting happened that morning… it feels wrong, even though you’re just trying to make it as a BUSINESS. It’s nice to hear someone else struggling with the “perfect” looking life. I definitely had a moment of, what the heck am I doing for the world when new years hit and I pledged myself to volunteering… still have to get on finding a group to join… but this post has me motivated. Thanks for sharing!
I totally hear you! So so glad to know it inspired you and we’re not alone!
YES girl. I am so on the same page. Way to pay it forward and just be real.
thank you for the kind words melanie!
This is so great!! I totally understand being over the numbers game — it feels so unauthentic sometime, especially with all that’s going on in the world. this post is so inspiring! <3
thank you for the kind words audrey!
This is incredible. Thanks for giving back, and for sharing some great organizations – so glad these are now on my radar! I also recommend donating to the Houston food bank; they’re doing a lot of great work right here in Houston.
totally! I wish they made it easier for us to donate food we have for shoots that go to waste, but everything always has to be sealed etc!