As you know, The Period Store launched March 1st, and now that we've had a few months under our belt we decided it was about time to celebrate with an official launch party. And you're invited! Even better, the first 100 attendees will receive a free goodie bag!
The Period Store invites you to their official launch and Menstruation Celebration! Join us for feminine mischief, intrigue, and a bloody good time.
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Case Studio SOHO | 390 Broadway, 3rd Floor
Saturday, June 1, 2013 | 8:00-10:00 pm
Image Source: Blacklamb
"Gradually my whole concept of time changed until I thought of a month as having twenty-five days of humanness and five others when I might just as well have been an animal in a steel trap."
-Florence King
Love,
The Period Store
This month our chocolate is by Alter Eco. See our interview below to learn a little more about them and their delicious fair trade chocolate!
Periodical: Tell us about yourself. Where are you located and what's your story?
Alter Eco: Alter Eco took shape, over ten years ago, when a group of friends translated their shared interests for travel, adventure and food into a viable business model. Co-founded in San Francisco, California by transplanted Frenchmen Mathieu Senard and Edouard Rollet, Alter Eco is a values-based brand of specialty food products that brings delicious, exotic, high-quality and healthy ingredients from around the world to consumers in the United States and Canada, all while directly benefitting small producers globally. Alter Eco offers only 100% fair trade, organic and non-GMO products. We work with our co-op partners to preserve heirloom grains, replenish and reforest the land. Our products are also Carbon Zero certified, which means we have measured and compensated for the carbon emissions of every step in the supply chain. Alter Eco offsets the emissions linked to our products by planting trees in the Amazon forest through a reforestation program called Pur Projet.
P: Tell us what you think about periods.
AE: We think periods are a time when a woman should do whatever she wants. In today’s modern world, we are constantly busy running around with work and personal projects, commuting, exercising, trying to eat healthy, trying to read more, separating the recycling and compost, staying on top of social media etc, etc. It seems there is never a moment to just stop and relax. We think periods are a time when a woman should allow herself to sit around if she just needs a minute to put her feet up. Or watch 3 straight hours of ‘bad’ TV. Or eat ice cream or French fries. And remind herself that it is OK once in a while to just be and smile and enjoy yourself. You are a woman and you are beautiful – and that’s it.P: Why do you think women on their periods will enjoy your sweets?
AE: If you are going to eat chocolate – eat good chocolate! Knowing that you are enjoying a sweet that has some of the healthiest options as ingredients is a great way to enjoy your indulgence. The Alter Eco Dark Quinoa chocolate bar is made with some of the finest cacao beans in the world from the Fortaleza cooperative in Ecuador. Then our Swiss Fair Trade chocolatiers work their magic with minimal ingredients, only cane sugar, quinoa-rice crisps and vanilla beans to create a delicious, premium chocolate pleasure. For so many of us who could never live without chocolate, this is the guilt free way!
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Thanks, Alter Eco! We are BIG fans and we look forward to sharing their other flavors with you in upcoming months!
The artist highlight this month is Heather Pratt. Below is a short interview we had with Heather so you can get to know her and her artwork a little better. We hope you love her piece as much as we do!
Periodical: How's your period?Heather: My period is somehow still surprising and different every month, even after 20 years! I can tell so much about how I am treating myself, how well I am eating and exercising, by how easy or difficult my cramping is or how wildly my emotions fluctuate. It serves as a check and balance for me, a reminder to get out go for hike, and take time to spend more quiet moments reflecting on good things. I am lucky to have a pretty easy period most of the time, though.
P: Tell us about the artwork you created for this month's period package.
H: The painting used for this months package was inspired by the work done by women the world over, what is often considered "women's work", the gathering of food, the time taken to create sustenance and comfort for those they (or we) look after, and also the female companionship that grows out of that work. The women carry the trees they harvest from in the painting much in the same way that carrying a burden with quiet strength and grace can bring its own fruitful harvest...
P: How do you think being a woman influences your work?
H: I can't imagine my artwork not being influenced by my being a women. Feminism struggles to bring equality to the world, and that is something that we should still be trying for, remembering that there are so many people still repressed and abused in the world. I often paint women working together at some task, or sharing quiet moments with others. I try always to take a perspective of compassion and kindness in my work, for all people, and to bring a feeling of humor, but never in a mocking way. I am interested in the story of daily lives, the quiet moments in between the action...
You can find more of Heathers work on her website, shop, read her blog and follow her on facebook.
All prints are 5"x7" and printed on premium, acid-free archival fine art paper.
We are very excited to bring you this month's tea from Earth Mama Angel Baby. It's been wonderful working with these folks over in Oregon. They have titles like "PR Mama" and "Mama's Helper" and their website includes pictures of babies with wings. How much better does it get? We loved their Monthly Comfort tea and hope you love it, too. Here's a little interview we did with Earth Mama Angel Baby to help you get to know a little more about them.
The Period Store: Tell us about Earth Mama Angel Baby and how it was started.
Earth Mama Angel Baby: Earth Mama Angel Baby began in founder/nurse/herbalist Melinda Olson’s garage, after she spent many years studying herbs and plant medicine. Melinda instinctively knew that the herbs that are abundant on this earth are here to heal and nurture, safely, and she wanted to pass that on. Everything Earth Mama does is based on gifts from the Earth - it has what you need to safely nurture your pregnant self and your baby! At Earth Mama we study the safest herbs, pore over evidence-based research, and formulate the safest products possible, the safest products a company can make in this industry, and products that are as close to the earth as can be.
TPS: How will the monthly comfort tea help women? Why is it awesome?
EMAB: It was formulated for postpartum use, but became popular at “that time of the month” because the time tested herbs used for blood-staunching, cramp-easing, and nutrients are the same. Organic Monthly Comfort Tea is made with 100% organic herbs, like astringent Lady's Mantle, balancing Lemon Balm, mineral-rich Nettles and Alfalfa, and rejuvenating Ginger for cramping. Yummy Cinnamon too!
It’s USDA Certified 100% Organic, because we care about what goes in your body, and you should too. It’s also Kosher. And did we mention delicious and effective?
TPS: What other awesome products/services does Earth Mama Angel Baby offer?
EMAB: When you skip your period, that’s the time to come to us! Women go through pregnancy with a lot of thought for their growing baby, but with not as much thought for their stretching, itchy skin, bottom problems and tummy troubles. Earth Mama products were formulated to safely soothe the common, ahem, unpleasantries that pregnant women and babies experience. The safe, organic herbs used in Earth Mama products have stood the test of generations, and have been historically, safely used on the most fragile people on the planet.
Even those of us at Earth Mama HQ who are not pregnant don’t go anywhere without a travel size Angel Baby Bottom Balm and one of our pure, organic castile soaps in their bags. Angel Baby Bottom Balm is like a first aid kit in a jar, it was formulated for diaper rash but we all use it for minor burns, scrapes, cuts and rashes of all kinds. And you never know what kind of soap you’re going to run into while traveling, so Earth Mama’s Shampoo & Body Wash varieties give us all peace of mind so we don’t have to slather with triclosan or harsh detergents.
TPS: Anything else you'd like to add?
EMAB: From your period to your pregnancy, your baby and beyond, let’s be safe out there!
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Thanks, Earth Mama Angel Baby!
Find Earth Mama Angel Baby on Facebook and Twitter.
Periodical readers, meet Alexia - the woman behind the fabulous soy candles our customers will be receiving in their period packages this month. Alexia created three custom aromatherapy candles for The Period Store to help ease some of the mood swings PMS can cause for some of us. All of our subscribers will be receiving a sample sized candle for the month of May.
Periodical: Tell us a little bit about yourself and about Laboratoire Noir
Laboratoire Noir: My name is Alexia. I live in Manhattan. I'm a hobby astronomer. I like to make things. I like to fix things. I'm a Scorpio and I was on Wheel of Fortune. More recently, I decided to explore fragrances and aromatherapy as a creative expression. My kitchen experiments have evolved into a growing brand. Candles are just the beginning for the Black Lab.
P: What do you think about periods?
LN: Our culture has such a clinical and generic point of view when it comes to menstruation. When I think of products marketed towards women's hygiene, visions of soft watercolor logos and fair-skinned maidens draped in white chiffon gowns come to mind. It is just dated. Women do not identify with those images. I don't know if they ever did.
Until recently, I thought periods were a total buzz kill. When my best friend introduced me to The Period Store, it was as though all my resentments towards menstruating had been lifted.
P: All of your candles are soy based. Why soy is better?
LN: First and foremost, soy is non-toxic and sustainable. In terms of economics and the environment, it's just the logical option because I can purchase soy wax domestically from manufacturers who work with U.S. farmers.
Additionally, the physical and chemical properties of soy wax happen to be much more attractive then that of paraffin wax. Soy wax burns slowly, so even small soy candles have a longer life then that of a traditional candle. Soy wax is also soft and smooth, so if you accidentally spill melted wax, clean up is very easy.
I think my most favorite part about working with soy wax is that my hands are extremely soft after a day of melting, mixing, and pouring. Not many creative projects leave your hands feeling like you just left the spa.
P: We love the custom candles you created for The Period Store. Can you tell us more about them?
LN: I too love the candles created for The Period Store. They are unique, they smell fabulous and they actually deliver the therapeutic benefits of aroma therapy. I had no concept of ever creating anything that had to do with periods. It never occurred to me that my products could sit along side with anything period-related.
When I learned more about The Period Store, it remembered that I did have some old aromatherapy recipes for dealing with PMS. A lot of my candles are exclusive to specific lunar cycles - almost like a 'monthly' deal. It just so happens that menstrual cycles are very similar to lunar cycles in that way! Why not use my candles as a vehicle for those old-school PMS remedies? I experimented and came up with three original variations that address the emotional, irritable, and angry mood swings of PMS - Dahlia, Scarlet, and Crimson. I'm just thrilled to be working with TPS.
Follow Laboratoire Noir on facebook and twitter.
It's 2013. Why do women still menstruate? With all the hormone treatment, procedures and gadgets out there, shouldn't we just get rid of menstruation altogether?
The British/Japanese artist Sputniko! (Hiromi Ozaki) created the video above along with the device in the video - a machine that simulates menstruation by dripping blood and using electrodes to mimic lower abdominal pain. The Menstruation Machine was featured in the Museum of Modern Art. Sputniko! believes that periods are unnecessary and modern women shouldn't have to deal with them.
Ms. Magazine's blog asks the important questions below - questions we think are worth asking our readers here:
"Is menstruation still a necessary part of identifying as a woman? Should it be? Are we afraid that if we decide not to menstruate we will be looked on as lesser women by society? Do we, like Takashi, consider menstruation to be a “female experience,” and as such, one that we should go through every month?
Or is menstruation punishing and restricting women by telling biological females that it is our duty to menstruate to prove our femininity–but then ostracizing from the sisterhood transwomen, post-menopausal women and other women who are unable or unwilling to menstruate?"
Those of us that run this blog all have different opinions about this topic. I personally don't take pills to regulate my period or for birth control because additional hormones in my system turn me into a crazy lady. I'm all for women taking control of their lives, but going against my body and getting rid of my period with pills and procedures that aren't 100% time tested and "natural" just doesn't feel right to me. And messages like these end up making me feel like there is one more thing I should dislike and change about my body. I'd rather just embrace who I am intrinsically and work with it.
But what do you think? Do we need menstruation? Am I being old fashioned?
Ashley
Happy Friday! Hope this makes you laugh on your Friday.
On a related note, do you work in an office and always find yourself hiding your period products? When I worked in an office here in NYC, I'd go to Duane Reade, have them double-bag the goods, then stash them in the very back of my desk drawer. And then I'd tuck them in my shirt or pocket on the way to the restroom. Why did I do that? Why do we care if people know when we're on our periods? I'd like to be able to hold a tampon in my hand in an office without anyone getting uncomfortable! Let those tampons, pads, sponges, menstrual cups or whatever else fly, girls. Go get yourself a tampon dress. Wear it proud.
Ashley
SNL, Superbad, Curb Your Enthusiasm. How about any number of those media-frenzied euphemisms…re: vajayjay…heck there’s a whole song you can sing along to on the matter. It kinda seems that we only feel okay talking about Periods when it’s part of a joke.
But I have a worry. I’m not a super serious person or anything, but I do think that if we only feel comfortable talking about periods and menstruation and tampons and stuff in the context of a joke, we’ll never really feel like we know our bodies.
So hello future. Hello women of today and tomorrow. Hello totally normal conversations! I wonder when it will happen, where one day we can all just talk openly and honestly about this stuff like we do our hair or finger nail polish. I wonder when women will geek out on what tampons they prefer, or ask a friend about odd discharge or abnormal cycles, just like we exchange insider tips on the rest of our lady grooming…
xo, Harper B.
We just came across this web series called Pubertina, which seems rather fitting since we just started carrying Dot Girl Kits for girls first periods. Pubertina is all about the wonderfully awkward parts of puberty. This episode is about Pube's (great nickname right?) first time using tampons. Remember your first time using a tampon? How about a menstrual cup? Or a sea sponge?
A few weeks ago we received an e-mail from Laura letting us know that she'd shown her 5th grade class our blog. We thought it was such a sweet experience that we asked her to write a guest post for The Periodical. Thanks, Laura!
Teaching 5th grade has been quite an adventure these first two years into my career. One of the most incredible things about it has been the distinctly noticeable change in my 10- and 11-year olds from the fall semester halfway into the spring semester. There is something strange that happens during those 2 weeks off for Winter break. It honestly feels like I’m witnessing that scene in Bambi when spring emerges and the now adolescent Bambi notices all the changes in his furry forest friends. My students become “twitterpated.” Crushes form, the boys try to show off, and the girls blush and giggle. It’s cute.
The cause of all these new emotions and feelings coursing through my newly smitten students is, of course, their new changing bodies. 5th grade is that stage when kids teeter between childhood and pubescence. A good two handfuls of both my boys and girls cross that line into puberty during the year.
My first year, I only had one girl start her period during the school year. None of my other girls crossed that threshold. This year, however, I’ve had five. Since I have talked with many about their new transition, I decided to take all my girls aside and have a “girl talk “ lunch hour (or lunch half hour). We went down to the cafeteria with the rest of the class, left the boys in curiosity, and came to the classroom for some real girl-to-girl discussions.
I was impressed and I guess flattered that the young ladies in my class were so comfortable asking me whatever questions they had in mind. I welcomed those who started their periods this year to “the club,” and told the others who weren’t quite with us yet that they will be welcomed soon enough. We discussed my first period (I was a late bloomer…Aunt Flow didn’t arrive until I was 16), the difference between pads and tampons and which ones were easier/more comfortable to use, we discussed the god-awful cramps that occasionally accompany our monthly visitor, and anything and everything in between.
I decided to show them the blog section of The Period Store and discuss the different topics presented. Holy smokes! This expanded their view of a “woman’s world” more than I could imagine. They were amazed that so many women were so honest about their periods! I think what made them embrace these changes that were happening to their bodies the most was when I read the interviews with the women from other countries. These girls realized EVERY girl all over the world go through what they are going through. They are not alone and they have this secret bond with every girl that the silly boys will never understand.
We became much closer that afternoon. We were no longer just a teacher and her students, but the ladies of Ms. Robinson’s class. Thank you, Period Store, for being that catalyst in helping young ladies become more comfortable with being a woman. As females, we shouldn’t be ashamed or grossed out about our periods, but realize it makes us strong. It’s because of our periods the fearless Beyonce was able to sing, “…strong enough to bear your children, then get back to business.”
Who runs the world? Damn straight, we do.
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Laura Robinson is a teacher currently living in Houston, TX. In her spare time she enjoys going out with friends, escaping reality through film, and discovering new things about her city.
Do you have any period stories to share? E-mail us at info[at]theperiodstore.com or leave a comment below!
Illustration by Ashley Seil Smith
I was running in Central Park last week while listening to Kelly Clarkson and periods were on the brain (periods are always on my brain these days!). I love me some Kelly Clarkson, but if you imagine that she is singing about vaginas in this song, it will make you laugh - especially those first few lines.
Seriously, though. I love this song. Everybody's got a dark side.
Ashley
"If they keep crashing stuff into the moon, the moon's gonna get pissed off, and the tides'll change, and all the women'll start PMS-ing together. Then you guys are going to f***ing regret it."
- Tori Amos
We are always adding new products to our inventory at The Period Store. We hope to eventually carry any and all period-related products that are out there from around the world. One of the most recent additions to our offerings is the Dot Girl First Period Kit. To help you get to know Dot Girl a little better, we asked Kathy, founder of Dot Girl, a few questions. Read below!
The Period Store: Tell us a little about yourself and what made you decide to create The Dot Girl brand?
Kathy Pickus: I am the mother to three grown children, two boys and a girl, and my daughter Hayley was my inspiration for The Dot Girl First Period Kit. When I started my period I thought I was dying, I had absolutely no information about menstruation. My mother was wonderful but talking to me and my sisters about our bodies was not comfortable for her. I vowed then that if I ever had a daughter, she would be prepared for her period.
Twenty-eight years later that day arrived. Hayley's reaction was 'yuck' when she heard about periods but we talked about periods and the role they fill in a woman's life. She did understand after our talk that periods were just a normal step in becoming a woman. That evening I put together a small bag of supplies for her to use in case she was away from home when her first period started. I included a clean pair of underpants, feminine hygiene products and a washcloth. I had her store it in her gym bag so she would be prepared.
It occurred to me that other parents might need help with explaining menstruation to their daughters and thus was born the idea of The Dot Girl First Period Kit.
TPS: What do you hope to accomplish with your Dot Girl First Period Kit?
KP: Even in today's day and age when feminine products are advertised on TV and take up whole aisles in drugstores, many girls don't have the information they need and often get misinformation from their friends. My goal for the kit is to provide parents with the information and supplies they need to explain the basics of menstruation to their daughters. And for the girls, I hope that having the kit will lessen their anxiety about their first period and instead turn it into a positive experience.
TPS: If you had one message for a newly menstruating girl, what would it be?
KP: Remember - periods are normal! Having your monthly period should not get in the way of your regular everyday life. If it does, then work with your parents or other trusted adult to get help with any problems.
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Thanks, Kathy!Are there any products out there you'd like to see us carry? Let us know in the comments below or e-mail us at info{at}theperiodstore.com
(Outtake from a photo shoot not Period Store related - I was bribing my cat Marzipan to take a picture with me and I was wearing the Lunapad. Photo shoots stress me out!)
So, of course, my period came again this month and I owe a product review. I'm not going to get all critical of any product that I test - there are real people behind these brands, and we sincerely believe that all of the brands The Period Store carries exist to make periods a better experience for women. So let's spread the love a little.
This month I would like to spread the love to Lunapads and their reusable pads. I mentioned last month that I have heavy periods, and this month was no different. I decided to try out Lunapad's Overnight Pads and I have to say, I really did like these. I've been a tampon and disposable pad girl my whole life but I'm always interested in products that are eco-friendly/reusable. I don't think most women use the overnight pad during the day, but I decided to try just one out to start and knew the overnight would give me the most coverage.
How To: I started using the Lunapad the first day of my period. The packaging suggests that one pad will last a whole day, and you can switch out inserts as often as you would change a disposable pad or tampon. I had two inserts and one pad and just washed one insert while the other was in. I found that for the first day, my heaviest, changing the insert three times worked. From there I was able to change it less often as my flow lightened. How often you change it out will completely depend on your flow and how long you can go without needing to freshen it up down there.
Convenience: I used these on days I was able to stay close to home, so I didn't have to worry about portability and bringing a bag to carry around the soiled insert. Regardless of the products I use, I typically try to stay close to home while on my period - do you guys do that, too? It's just more comfortable to be at home while you're menstruating, but I realize we don't always have that luxury. If you work in an office or go to school, you can carry a bag for the soiled insert. I just washed mine immediately after using them. I typically use Fels-Naptha soap, but check out our post about getting stains out of underwear for ideas on how to get blood out of fabric - the comments have great suggestions as well. Since the blood was still wet, I only really used cold water with a little bit of soap.
It smelled like iron in my bathroom as I washed out the blood the first time, which surprised me for some reason and then immediately made me think of the Jeanette Winterson quote we posted last month. I think it's good to be more connected and aware of your body and what is coming out of it, so I didn't have a problem handling the blood. It's your body - own it! You can wear gloves if it makes you feel gross, but really, who does that? And of course, wash your hands after and let the insert air dry or stick it in a dryer load.
Comfort: Lunapads are seriously comfortable. They're really soft and since they just snap around the bottom of your underwear, there aren't any sticky parts. Their bulk is a little bigger than a normal disposable pad (especially because I was using the overnight), but I think if you are a reusable pad kind of girl, you understand that it's real fabric and you are willing to deal with any extra bulk. I've read other reviewers who said they don't notice the extra bulk. Either way, it wasn't annoying for me, and the cloth trapped all of the blood so I had no leakage, which is unusual! I feel like I always have blood escaping out of the back or sides, but even overnight the Lunapad trapped all of the blood.
I will be using these again (and again, and again!). Another bonus is that a portion of all sales of Lunapads go to their One4Her program supporting AFRIpads.
There are a lot of ladies out there who have always used cloth pads, so tell us what you think! Why do you use Lunapads? Any special tips for those of us who are new to them?
Ashley
Remember that episode in Girls when Hannah says, "I never know when I'm getting my period, and it's always a surprise, and that's why all my underwear are covered in weird stains." -then she makes an awesome expression with her face and shrugs one shoulder in a way that makes you totally understand what she's talking about.
Well ladies, this blog post is for all the Hannah's out there. How to get period stains out of our underwear.
1. Never use hot water on a blood stain. Period. Hot water will make the stain settle which means those panties are pretty much done for.
2. Soak your panties in a bit of hydrogen peroxide and water (1/4 hydrogen peroxide to 3/4 water) can also do the trick.
3. Scrub the stain with powdered dish soap and cold water.
4. An all natural option recommended by comedian Margaret Cho is to "spit on the stain - your saliva has enzymes that will break it down. Unfortunately it has to be your blood and your saliva - you can't do it for anyone else".
5. Ruby's red wash is a period stain remover made by a woman especially for women. You don't need to treat the stain right away. Just throw the panties in the laundry basket and deal with them on laundry day.
Komforte Chockolates is run by three friends, Robert, Peter, and Frank. We asked them a few questions about their company and their thoughts on periods. Get to know them below.
Periodical: Tell us about yourself. Where are you located and what's your story?
Komforte: Sitting around our favorite Japanese restaurant in Tustin, California we debated the intelligence of starting a new small business in the midst of the worst recession of our lifetimes. It didn’t occur to us that we had a huge learning curve ahead of us. We took to the kitchen and began often times frightening rounds of experimentation mixing our favorite snacks with premium chocolate until we hit upon something undeniably good. An imperfect science, but it helped us get ready to work with a chocolatier and make real bars with real, natural ingredients.
The Company’s brand concept is designed to address the perennial attraction of chocolate as comfort food, and to consolidate previous, disparate efforts into one brand that is singularly dedicated to a product line centered on the comfort-meets-chocolate concept with an emphasis on creative and surprisingly savory combinations.
P: Tell us what you think about periods.
K: We think periods are a
time in which it is wise to have more sympathy for our wives.
P: Why do you think women on their periods will enjoy your sweets?
K: We hope that women will find them enjoyable at all times, but our name and approach to our flavors says it all. We try to develop bars that speak to our concept of comfort and comfort foods. We don’t try to be pretentious about our flavor palates, just good comforting flavor that hopefully evokes good thoughts and memories.
Now go customize your period package to get a Torilla Lime + Salt Komforte bar in time for your next period!
The Period Store is excited to work with contemporary artists to bring you a limited edition 5"x7" print that touches on some aspect of womanhood each month. Good or bad, we're all inspired in some way by menstruation and all of the feminine issues surrounding it. Art is a visual language we can utilize to address these feminine topics, which is one of the many reasons we include art in each package. We hope to eventually have a large collection of artwork dedicated to womanhood and menstruation.
The artist highlight this month is Evgenia Mikhayova - a Russian artist currently living in Canada's charming "Siberian" city Saskatoon. Below is a short interview we had with Evgenia so you can get to know her and her artwork a little better. We hope you love her piece as much as we do!
Periodical: So, how's your period?
Evgenia: Due to the birth control I was on for a while I haven't had my period
for quite some time (5 years), but I am excited to have it back soon. I
know most would not be EXCITED about the period, but I think I would
rather deal with all of the things that nature gives us as women
than trying to suppress it, I think it's for the best! And maybe we're not
meant to always be in control of everything - it's good to give it up
sometimes ;)
P: Tell us about the artwork you created for this month's period package.
E: The piece that I created is about listening to yourself and also be
aware of the things around you... I think I chose the red colour
subconsciously... It's about the intuitive women's world (and it's
always full moon inside!)
P: How do you think being a woman influences your work?
E: Sometimes I think I make more masculine work (in my head) and sometimes
more feminine...It reminds me how Alice from "Alice in Wonderland" use
to talk to herself in two personalities, I often have that dialog. (And
just about now you can call me crazy...haha) It's a tricky question
actually... My work is my world, and my world is seen through the
woman's eyes.
You can find more of Evgenia's work on her website, shop and follow her on instagram. We think the portrait of her below is pretty fabulous.
Do you have work that you would like to submit to The Period Store? Contact us! info[at]theperiodstore.com
All limited edition prints are 5"x7" and printed on premium, acid-free archival fine art paper.
Photo by: B Johnathan Michaels
We are so happy to celebrate our first month of sending out monthly period packages. We knew we would deliver lots of tampons, but didn't realize how many of you were as curious about sea sponges as we are, and our Korean pads were a huge hit! We are constantly looking for new products to offer as well as vegan, gluten-free and herbal remedies for you. Be sure to check the blog for more girl talk. We've got lots in store for the future!
Images via instagram. Hashtag your packages with #theperiodstore so we can follow you!
This got me laughing. Does it make you laugh? And I needed a laugh this morning because I started my period and all I want to do is sit and be entertained by Youtube videos while I cramp, bleed and eat doughnuts from Doughnut Plant. Watch the whole thing!
By Superwoman on the Youtubes.
Ashley
Our post today is an interview with Rhonda, one of our readers. We actually found Rhonda through twitter when she mentioned PCOS in a conversation we were having about awful hormones. Rhonda was nice enough to answer some questions we have about PCOS, or Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. We are interested in educating and connecting women, and we're especially interested in making these sometimes difficult or overlooked topics more easy to talk about. Thanks, Rhonda -you are great!
The Period Store: Tell us a little about PCOS - what it is biologically, what the symptoms are, etc.
Rhonda: Basically PCOS is a disconnect between your ovaries and your brain. It is classified as an endocrine disorder because it's hormonally based. It affects all hormone production - not just estrogen, the female hormone. All hormones are not being regulated in the proper manner which can result in irregular cycles, missed periods, ovarian related infertility, and excessive testosterone which can cause acne, hair growth, etc. PCOS also increases your risk of insulin resistance or type two diabetes, as well as weight gain. I think the worst symptom that I have experienced is the polycystic ovaries or the ovarian cysts. It basically feels like you are being stabbed in the ovaries as the cyst erupts. Also, since PCOS causes hormonal imbalances I experience worse than normal PMS and mood swings. At one point my doctor thought I may have PMDD as well.
TPS: When did you first learn that you had PCOS and what prompted you to see if there might be something going on?
R: I first learned that I had PCOS in October of 2010. I was hopeful that I might be pregnant because my period was over a week late. However, about a week after I should have gotten my period I woke up with what, at first, felt like overly aggravated menstrual cramps. The cramps were so bad that I did not go to work that day, but just lied in bed all day with a heating pad. As the day progressed I was in increasingly intense pain, and I called my doctor. She asked me to please come to her office because at least she could do a pregnancy test, and we could get an idea of what was going on with me. Once I got there they did a urine pregnancy test which came out negative. The pain had just gotten worse and worse throughout the day and while at the office. My doctor was worried that I was experiencing an ectopic pregnancy or an appendix rupture, so she sent me over to the local emergency room where they could do a CAT scan. When they did the scan they found cysts on my ovaries, and my lab work showed that my hormones were not balanced. After that I had my blood drawn several times to see if the hormones were consistently inconsistent. They were and so began my journey to dealing with PCOS.
TPS: How do you deal with PCOS today?
R: Today I deal with PCOS on a daily basis. I have changed my diet and exercise habits. I have a hard time losing weight, and I've gained more than I would have liked or is healthy over the past several years. This makes following a specific diet and exercise regime even more important. We have also been experiencing secondary infertility for almost three years at this point, and have finally begun working with my ob/gyn at this point. I am extra diligent in tracking my cycles, so that I can be prepared for when I may get the cysts since they are so painful that I cannot work or do much of anything. I have to get my blood drawn more frequently than people without PCOS because if my hormones get too far out of whack it wreaks havoc on my life. I feel like having this has impacted my life deeply, and I think a lot of time people dismiss it as a "female problem." I feel like this trivializes this very serious condition as something that all women are just cursed with and have to deal with, rather than viewing this as something that is actually wrong with me and needs medical treatment.
TPS: Do you feel like women talk about PCOS in general?
R: I do not feel like women or anyone talks about PCOS. As I stated before I feel like a lot of people don't like to talk about periods or anything to do with the female body. People shy away from topics of cramps, PMDD, PCOS, breastfeeding, pap smears, basically everything that women deal with. I think many people are likely to blame a woman's bad mood on PMS or they make jokes about it being "that time of month." In reality periods should not cause those hyper intense mood swings or intense pain. Those are signs that something is wrong, and I think as women we should start listening to our bodies and stop listening to people who dismiss these issues as "women's troubles."
Thanks again, Rhonda! You can find Rhonda on her blog, Accidentally Beautiful Life, or on twitter, @absolutlyrhonda.
What other period health issues would you like to see us talking about? E-mail us at info[at]theperiodstore.com.
Illustration by Ashley Seil Smith.
Upon telling some women I know about the venture of The Period Store, while many were super supportive and excited about it, there were still some who dismissed it.
Some women told me that this would never work, that the women in their lives hate periods and some delivery service wouldn’t change much. Others felt like we were selling-out, aiming to ‘yuppifiy’ aunt flow.
Well, everyone is right. First off, there really isn’t such a thing as having a ‘happy period,’ for most women. Frankly it’s a hormonal, annoying, bloated rollercoaster. Second, yep, maybe there is something boutique and entrepreneurial about this venture. But why not celebrate a business for women, by women aiming to bring levity, creativity and modern thinking to a stuck-in-the-stone-age category?
I don’t know about you, but walking down the femcare aisle of a Rite-Aid today still feels bewildering, clinical and like a big fat sales pitch. Why not reimagine the way we experience that time of the month? Why not experiment with products, ask women for advice, meet female artisans across the country who are inspired by that time of the month – or who aim to offer you a little sweetness?
I love a good debate. I don’t believe any of us have the answers. But I do believe that it is up to us ladies to challenge and change the way we experience the most common, natural and female time every month.
@Harper B.Photo Via: Vice
As women around the world we all, of course, experience life differently. But ask a woman to talk to you about her period, and you will find an instant connection. We at The Period Store love women and feel a sisterhood with women in the US and abroad. Perhaps this sisterhood is due to our history of struggle together, through women's suffrage to the women's liberation movement and on. Perhaps it is because of how our brains are hardwired. Regardless, this sisterhood and connectivity is one of the many reasons we have The Periodical and the "Periods Around the World" series in particular. We want to educate ourselves and others about how women experience and manage their periods in different cultures.
This time around we asked Aarthi from Hyderabad, India to tell us about her experience with periods and being a woman in her city. We know this isn't always an easy subject to discuss and we are so thankful to all the women who are willing to open up and talk about it. Thank you, you are amazing.
Periodical: How and when did you learn about periods?
Aarthi: I had my first period towards the end of 8th grade. All my friends by
then had been menstruating for over 2 years. The discussions about
sanitary pads and the discomfort caused by them was a topic of
discussions on monthly basis. So yes, I was aware of periods well in
advance.
P: Do you remember your first period? Were you prepared?
A: The answer is NO. I remember the day vividly. It was a nice Saturday
evening and I spent the whole day playing with my friends. I came home
and realized that my panties were wet and soaked in blood. Narrated the
incident to my mother who then taught me how to use sanitary pads. This
was back in 1996 and tampons were unheard of in India. Back in the day
many of my friends would use cloth pads cause the flow would be very
heavy and sanitary pads were available in one or 2 sizes.
P: How has period management in India changed over time?
A: Yes, period management has changed in a good way in India. Like I mentioned above, sanitary pads were available in one or two standard sizes and tampons were unavailable in India. Now, the market is flooded with various brands of sanitary pads available in different shapes and sizes. From belted to pads with extra large wings are all readily available. The same goes with tampons as well. A lot of my friends wouldn't attend school during periods. The toilets in schools were ill equipped and not the ideal place to change pads. Even till this date, the scenario has remained unchanged in a lot of Indian schools especially government schools. Government schools are the Indian version of public schools.
Earlier if a girl suffered severe menstrual cramps, the only solution given by parents was to avoid consumption of food substances which would worsen the pain like cold water. Not sure how far it is true, but seeking medical help was the last resort. Today a lot of teenagers in India approach doctors if the pain is unbearable and there are complications associated with it. In my case, there was a gap of 6-8 months between the first and second period. I never approached a doctor cause it was very common to have irrregular periods. Slowly, my periods regulated automatically.
P: Any cultural taboos related to periods India?
A: There are way too many cultural taboos associated with periods in India. The main one being a girl should not enter temple or offer religious prayers during her menustral cycle. The 4th day is when things go back to normalcy. It is expected that the girl would have a head bath and then offer prayers. As per Hindu tradition entering temples is strictly prohibited.
In some families a girl is made to sit separately while her
periods. This is commonly seen in families belonging to the South Indian
state of Tamil Nadu. The practice still continues in ultra orthodox
Tamilian households.
In short, a girl is considered to be unclean while menstruating.
In rural India, a girl can be married after she has attained puberty. The start of menstrual cycle indicates she is now a woman who has reached child bearing stage. The girl in certain cases is not allowed to attend schools after the onset of periods. Such mindsets are very prominent in the villages of North India.
P: The Period Store is all about celebrating womanhood. In what ways does India celebrate womanhood?A: Well, sorry to say, but India doesn't celebrate womanhood in any way. There are lot of atrocities committed against women in this country. The country is currently under a lot of pressure to improve the sex ratio. Techniques such as sex selective abortions/ female feoticide and rapes are very common. Dowry deaths and honour killings are widespread in the nation.
---
Again, thank you Aarthi and if you would like to tell us about period culture in your city, state or country e-mail us at info[at]theperiodstore.com or comment below.
"Anyhow, he asks himself, what is an intimate secret? Is that where we hide what's most mysterious, most singular, most original about a human being? Are her intimate secrets what make [her] the unique being he loves? No. What people keep secret is the most common, the most ordinary, the most prevalent thing, the same thing everybody has: the body and its needs, it maladies, its manias - constipation, for instance, or menstruation. We ashamedly conceal these intimate matters not because they are so personal but because, on the contrary, they are so lamentably impersonal."
-Milan Kundera, Identity
Photo Source: Forlagid
Did you know that Courteney Cox was the first person to say the word "period" in a feminine hygiene ad back in 1985? Is anyone else surprised by the fact that the word "period" wasn't used in a commercial to sell period products until 1985?
What do you think of the ad? And can we talk about how awesome Courteney Cox's hair is?
Also, period, period, period.
@rubi_jones
When I was 20 (only 2 years into my menstrual cycle experience, by the way) I was eating ice cream with a male friend when, seemingly out of nowhere, he asked about my period. "What's it like?" he nonchalantly asked.
I am sure my face blushed beyond recognition and I stammered something about it being fine.
I was appalled that a boy would ask me about my period! Weren't boys supposed to cringe and stammer when it came to women's cycles? What was this boy doing being more comfortable with my monthly cycle than I was?
Luckily, I have since come to realize that most men in my life are very understanding and curious when it comes to these things. But my misconception wasn't completely unfounded.
According to the ancient story of Hypatia - the mere sight of menstrual blood could not only embarrass a man but would actually cure him of even the greatest infatuation.
Hypatia was one of the first female scholars of mathematics and taught at the Platonist school in Alexandria, Egypt during the 3rd century. She was smart, powerful and beautiful to boot.
However, her well-laid academic plans were sidetracked when she began to be pursued by a male admirer. She could not let this happen so in order to cure him of his "erotique melancholy," she showed him her used menstrual rags. That's right ladies - one look at her ancient-greek panty liner and, as historian/physician Jacques Ferrand puts it, "his heat was presently allayed, and he (was) cured of his Love-Melancholy."Fortunately, times have changed. Not only can we have an entire store dedicated to our cycles, but we can expect that the men in our lives be understanding and informed about how our bodies work.
5 years following the ice-cream episode, I married that curious male-friend of mine, and I simply can't imagine having a better companion for a life-time of periods.
ElissePhoto source: Hypatia at the Haymarket Theater
Remember when Brick in the movie Anchorman says, "I read somewhere that their periods attract bears. The bears can smell the menstruation!"? Even though I'm sure Harper will soon tell us that animals can't smell periods seriously, my Italian Greyhound Cleo can smell your period.
She goes crazy over them! It’s hilarious and
embarrassing, especially when girlfriends come over. I’m laughing now
just thinking about it. Interestingly enough though, she doesn’t care if
I’m on my period, but if a friend comes over who happens to be riding
the crimson wave Cleo will not leave her alone. She’ll jump up my friends skirt
over and over again trying to sniff her bum and will follow her around
the entire time she's in my apartment.
Usually
when we’re on walks Cleo just minds her own business and focuses on
avoiding subway grates and looking for weird food to eat. We live in a
big city so she’s used to sharing the sidewalk with a lot of people and
doesn’t really care about anyone unless it’s a child riding a scooter or
a magical dog whisperer. But every now and then a woman will pass by us
on a walk and Cleo will go straight up her skirt. Again, embarrassing
and hilarious because I know what’s up. It makes me really happy though
because it means that Cleo was destined to be The Period Store mascot, no?
@rubi_jones
Happy 50th anniversary, Betty, and thank you. I’m not sure if you’ve seen the PBS Makers documentaries recently, Women Who Made America, but talk about feeling appreciative of those who’ve come before! (love ya ma).
While we’ve come a long, long way, us ladies don’t have all the answers. It’s kinda why we need places like The Period Store – inspiration that enables us to get to know our ourselves and our bodies...and learn to dig it “down there.” Only 40 years ago Our Bodies, Our Selves came out, the first publication to offer women a bipartisan, totally open take on female health. Women hid it under their beds as if they had a secret to hide. That’s not that long ago! It’s probably why we continue to feel kinda at odds when it comes to our vaginas and periods.
Well ladies, now that we’re rockin in the real world, and it’s 2013, it’s time to get back to ourselves. I guess this post is more like a toast. It’s a cheers and celebratory yeehaw to inspire women everywhere to take the time to look in the mirror down there more often. To think about and talk about the products we use, the soaps, lotions, douches, waxing, wellness, primping and preening we do. If we ignore our own anatomy we are kinda ignoring a huge part of who we are….
xo, Harper B @itsharper
Second post in a row about Ashley?! It must be the Ashley Show here. And don't mind me, I'm just having my period! Rather serendipitous-ly, BOTH Rubi's period and my period started just as The Period Store launched. AND, simultaneously, one of my sister's hens, named Dove, laid an egg after months of no ovulation. Miracles, guys. We all started our periods with the launch of The Period Store. And then we ate Dove's period! But not really.
But really, we're excited for our On The Rag series, which will include a monthly report of different products I test out while on the rag. My periods are really heavy and really painful (which was mentioned on Monday...you might get a little tired of hearing about my period). I also have issues with anemia because the flow is so outrageous. And I supposedly have "PMDD" which means I get depressed right before I start and a little bit during. I'm basically one big period party and everyone loves being around me.
I normally use Always Maxi Overnight Super (i.e. the biggest, fattest pads I can find) and have also been known to occasionally wear an adult diaper to bed. My husband thinks this is a Super Sexy look. For daytime I normally use any combination of Tampax Pearl with Always liners. All of these products have worked great for me so far, but I'm also a nature-lover and I'm excited to experiment with the more natural and reusable products as well.
So, get ready, ladies! Starting next month, my goal is to give you the low-down on all the products I test so that you have more products to possibly add to your period repertoire (say ten times fast).
Ashley
Have a favorite period product? Let us know about it! info[at]theperiodstore.com
Photo above taken by Ashley's sister, Lisa. Courtesy of Dove the hen.
The Period Store is excited to work with contemporary artists to bring you a limited edition 5"x7" print that celebrates womanhood each month. The artist highlight this month is one of The Period Store's very own founders, Ashley Seil Smith. Ashley is embarrassed that she is the artist highlight this month, but we're going to do a highlight on her anyway in the hopes that it helps you get to know The Period Store a little bit better, too.
Ashley lives in New York City and has a background in Anthropology. She is currently earning her MFA at the School of Visual Arts here in Manhattan. Her enthusiasm and love for art is one of the reasons we include art in every period pack we send. Some day, we hope to have a huge collection of contemporary art devoted solely to womanhood and periods. Here's what Ashley had to say when we asked her a few questions for the artist highlight:
Periodical: So, how's your period?
Ashley: So glad you asked! I love talking about my period. It is awful. It is heavy and extremely painful.
P: Tell us about the artwork you created for this month's period package.
While working on The Period Store over the past year, the phrase "Love What Makes You Ladies" kept popping into my head, so I created a print of the phrase using watercolor. This doesn't mean we should love our periods necessarily, but I do think it means we should love and embrace all of the wonderful attributes that generally accompany womanhood, including our sensitivity, our emotional vulnerability, and our compassion. I'm not saying that men don't have these attributes (my husband can sometimes be more compassionate than me!), but it is true that, in general, women tend to be more emotional and we tend to need that human connection a little bit more. We are hard-wired to need other women especially. I decided to include the "Love What Makes You Ladies" print in this month's period pack in the hopes that it reminds women everywhere to always love and celebrate all those little things that make them a woman.
P: How do you think being a woman influences your work?
A: This answer is going to be very convoluted. As a woman with four strong sisters, I love everything having to do with women and womanhood. What "everything" includes, I'm not so sure. The chair of my department at SVA, Marshall Arisman, is always telling us to paint or draw what we know. Being a woman and everything that entails is what I know, so it will continue to be a huge part of my visual story. My art career is still in its infancy, but I hope to always include feminine themes in my work. As a side note, I think there are more women involved in the art world today than ever before, which is wonderful. And I'm even more excited to see what our other artists contribute each month!
You can find more of Ashley's work here at The Periodical or visit her website.
Do you have work that you would like to submit to The Period Store? Contact us! info[at]theperiodstore.com
All limited edition prints are 5"x7" and printed on premium, acid-free archival fine art paper.
Do you remember learning about periods in grade school? Our school nurse held an assembly with all the girls in 4th and 5th grade in which she explained menstruation to all of us. We each left the assembly with a little bag of pads and pamphlets and were told not to show them to the boys in school. I remember thinking it was so secretive and exciting.
This 10-minute film was produced by Walt Disney Productions and Kimberly-Clark and was shown to American students as part of health class between 1946 - 1951. I think that my favorite part of the film is around 7:34 when the narrator says:
"..don't let it get you down. After all -- no matter how you feel, you have to live with people, you have to live with yourself, too! And once you stop feeling sorry for yourself and take those days in your stride, you'll find it easier to keep smiling and even-tempered."
The film is cute, entertaining, funny and very informative. It also leaves us wondering how far we've actually come in terms of discussing coping with periods since the 1940s. What do you think? Get your popcorn out, girl, and enjoy this little period refresher course.
xo @rubi_jones
When Ashley and I first started dreaming about The Period Store, sweets immediately came into the conversation. We'll post more about why we crave something sweet while PMSing later, but for now, let's just all agree that it can definitely cheer a girl up. We're happy to be partnering with different quality sweet-makers to bring our customers a surprise sweet every month. For the month of March 2013 we're partnering with Chocolate Editions by Mary and Matt. They answered a few questions for us below. Enjoy!
Periodical: Tell us about yourself. Where are you located and what's your story?
Chocolate Editions: Mary
Matson & Matt Even are designers, chocolate makers and art lovers
living in Brooklyn. They met in High School and have been collaborating
ever since.
P: Tell us what you think about periods.
CE: That's what we women get for Eve taking a bite out of an apple? But, I guess it gives us an excuse to eat sweets every month.
P: Why do you think women on their periods will enjoy your sweets?
CE: Hopefully it will give them some sweet relief.
We interviewed Rubi's mom, Olivia, about what it's like to have your period in Tijuana, Mexico.
Periodical: How and when did you learn about periods?
Olivia: I
learned about periods when I was around 11 years old. I come from a big family and my mom told me about it with a little pamphlet she brought home from a doctor's appointment. I don't think my older sisters were so lucky though. It was also in our health textbooks in 5th grade but our teacher taught the girls about it in private.
P: Do you remember your first period? Were you prepared?
O: I wasn’t prepared for it but it
wasn’t very dramatic because I did know what to expect. My aunt was
visiting my family at the time and I asked her for help, I later told
my mom.
P: What do you call a period in Mexico?
O: Tijuana is a border town so we use a lot of American words in our vocabulary. Periods are most commonly referred to as "Regla", "Periodo" or "Menstruacion".
P: How has period management in Mexico changed over time?
O: In the 60’s and when I first got my period there was only one brand of pads at the grocery store which was only offered in one size. I remember when tampons appeared on shelves and other brands were more widely available but tampons are still a bit hard to find in some other parts of Mexico.
P: Are there any period remedies specific to Mexico?
O: Yes, there are! Buscapina pills, Tempra, Newmalubrina and drinking plenty of chamomille and "yerba buena" tea. We normally avoid milk and eggs to help with cramps and eat lots of beans because they are filled with iron.
P: Any cultural taboos related to periods Mexico?
O: Women don't feel comfortable talking about periods in our culture. You shouldn't announce your period to the whole world, it's a very private thing.
P: The Period Store is all about celebrating womanhood. In what ways does
Mexico celebrate womanhood?
O: Mexican families are usually pretty tight knit, everyone has a lot of "tias" - blood related or not, so women always have a female friend or family member to talk to. I also think that Mexican women are generally happy, we give a lot of hugs and kisses and definitely show our love through food.
---
Tell us about what period culture is like in your city, state, or country!
“When she bleeds the smells I know change colour. There is iron in her soul on those days. She smells like a gun.”
― Jeanette Winterson, Written on the Body
Ashley here.
I was twelve. At girls camp in Texas. I sat in the main hall watching the opening ceremonies of what would be an estrogen-packed week of swimming, eating in the butane filled mess hall, and late night bunk bed talk. But, no -- instead, that week my body decided to make me a woman. Coming of age hit me at first as a weird, uncomfortable feeling in my stomach (is it gas? What the H did I eat?), and a sudden feeling that I had wet my pants. I went back to our cabin with a friend, where I realized that my underwear had been taken over by alien blood from the planet Jay-Jay. And that was when I knew my week was over.With the help of camp leaders and after a call to my mother, I bought Giant Pads at the camp store. I was obviously very new to pads and apparently had some trouble coordinating the take on – take off process (can we talk about this? Hold two pads AND wrap one in toilet paper AND unwrap one of them? Forget it.). So one day in, I accidentally left a giant soiled pad sitting in the bathroom stall. I don’t know. I was twelve. Giant Soiled Pad was discovered a few hours later by some girls in my cabin and mayhem followed, along with some disgusted remarks about the type of moron that would do such a thing. I did what any mortified twelve year old would do and was all, “I don’t know! Who would do that!?”
Camp leaders must have understood whodunnit, but they were really nice about covering for me. I mean, one of them had to touch the thing and throw it away. I spent the rest of the week in sweats, making yarn wrapped hangers for nursing homes and crocheting.
Ashley
And Now Rubi's First...I can’t remember my first period! I feel kind of lame for being one of The Period Store founders and not even remembering my first period. I do remember anxiously waiting for it for what seemed like forever, though. I remember when my oldest sister had her first period (we’ll save that story for later) so I knew what to expect. My mom always had our house well-stocked with pads, tampons and pantyliners so I knew what to do when it was time but I remember just waiting and waiting for me to become a teenager!
The women in my family usually got theirs at age 12 and all my friends were getting their periods in 7th grade, so I expected to get mine in 7th grade, too. I would wear a pantyliner or pad at any sign of cramps and although I did have my first kiss on the last day of 7th grade, I didn’t get to tell my friends I was “riding the crimson wave” until the following year. It must have happened in the summer, and I probably wasn’t prepared for it because it had faked me out for so many months but there began the next 30+ years of menstruation. Yipee. ← sarcasmxo, @rubi_jones
illustration by Ashley Seil Smith
The video on our homepage was created with the help of the wonderful husband/wife team Tiger in a Jar over the course of two days in NYC. I took one day off work and we spent Friday and Saturday running around the city to shoot. On day two Nate was the chauffeur in our minivan (we don't have any kids but Nate and I own a minivan in Manhattan. I know, it's weird. But, glory! The New England camping trips!).
We scheduled some interviews throughout the city and also planned on stopping random women to ask them about their periods. I have a background in ethnographic research but still thought I would wet my pants over this. While fairly stressful, stopping random women was enjoyable and insightful. There were a handful of hearty no-thank-you's, but we found that most women were more than willing to stop and chat about periods. We talked about everything from advice you'd give your newly menstruating daughter to obstacles women on their periods face in New York City in particular. Of course, tourist city that Manhattan is, we ran into a few visitors along the way who also had great things to say.
The first thing my super supportive Dad said when he saw this video was, "You obviously scripted it." But no way, Dad! We didn't tell anyone what to say, and they were only going off of a short description of The Period Store.
So, thanks all you ladies who were brave enough to talk to us about periods! We very much appreciate it and we look forward to more videos in the future. Let's continue to expand the dialogue about periods across cultures and generations!
Ashley
It’s 2013. Venus is rising. Thanks to our moms and grandmoms, it pretty much rocks to be a woman today. As of 2010 there are now more women in the US workforce. More of us are getting degrees than boys. Beyonce’s half-time show was a hypnotic declaration of girls pretty much rockin and rulin the world. It’s not an angry feminism and ‘this is what we demand’ kinda celebration of womanhood. The torch of femininity today is being carried by the Lena Dunhams and Tavi’s of the world, women who are just who they are. Self expression and reality checks are their m.o.
But this is my first blog post. And this site is about periods! Well don’t ya think it’s kinda curious that at a time when we are more bombastic, more empowered than ever before, we know so little about the very things that kinda makes us “women”? Isn’t it weird that we still feel some embarrassment when it comes to things like periods, tampons, pads and menstrual blood, and how little we really know about our vaginas?
I’ve spent years studying the culture of menstruation. I find the codes, language, history and behaviors around fem care a truly amazing phenomena. Like how many words we use, like sanitary napkins and feminine hygiene, were pretty much invented by advertisers, manufacturers and lingering, dated societal norms.
Now, I don’t believe in having a ‘happy period,’ but I do believe that if we as women can become totally and utterly comfortable and confident talking about fem care, about the products we use and begin new, modern dialogues around it, periods can maybe be a more included part of our womanhood as much as our hair, skincare and cosmetic regimes currently are.
xo, Harper B
@itsharper
photo source: Ovarian gang sign on buzzfeed
Hi ladies! We hope this post finds you and your flower doing well. We’ll make this short and sweet – we’re really excited to finally launch The Period Store, something we have been working on (and stressing about) for over a year now. We’re just starting out, and we have a lot of big plans for the future, but for right now, our goals include:
1) Make you smile every time you visit us or receive something from us (because women are wonderful, but periods can be lame).
2) Open up the dialogue a little bit more about periods, womanhood, and how we’re all doing down there these days - across cultures and generations.
3) Expose you to the wide variety of products that exist so that you can make the best of period management. We all have to buy period products, right? It's about time we really understood what is available to us.
4) We’re not gonna lie, we really want to send you a box every month, full of your favorite products and a few special treats that we find along the way. It’ll be a monthly surprise that you will actually enjoy!
So, we hope you come back time and again for a smile and some interesting information regarding your period. It’s so nice that we all have this private area (online ;) to discuss!Best wishes to you and yours,
---
Ashley and Rubi
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