Shorts are so…informal. Leisure is so…lazy. For centuries, Western culture gave precedence to pants over shorts, and work has been pushed as the purpose of life at the expense of rest. Real men wore pants regardless of the task, job, or weather. Out in a field tilling the soil—pants. Sitting at a desk in an office in front of a computer—pants. Going to the beach or for a swim—pants, and even a shirt. Much of this comes down to a moral affinity for clothing that covers and is modest, or garments that are more protective. Certainly, there are some industries and tasks when covering up is helpful and necessary, but the dominance of pants in Western society was prescribed to men regardless of thoughtful consideration for the situation, that is, until the early 19th century.

Modesty as a standard of society began to change along with people’s moral perspectives heading into the 19th century. In the post-Industrial Revolution era people began to seek more meaning and joy in life. Labor strikes and movements were common leading up to World War I, culminating in and alongside the Women’s Rights Movement and passing of the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote. This progressive era carried over into the Roaring ’20s—a time of pushback between traditional and progressive values. Men at this point were still dressing modestly into the ’30s, with the exclusion of a rising wealthier and middle class that had more time and financial liberty for sports and leisure. With these activities came a gradual shift from pants to shorts for sport and swimming. Styles were more modest at first, with many men still wearing longer shorts and shirts, or full body one-piece swimsuits. But the shift had begun and continued to develop through World War II, the post-World War II ’50s, and into the free-spirited cultural revolution of the ’60s and ’70s. With each passing decade fashion shifted, traditional morals loosened, and shorts on men got a little bit shorter.

Fashion changes, but the short shorts of the mid-19th century have stuck around. Functional, sporty, cooling, and, now, nostalgic, short shorts are part of the history of change on stylistic and moral progression. Short Shorts: Men at Leisure is an homage to the men of the past and a celebration of a style still alive and well today. These are our father’s shorts, and they are here to stay.

Why don’t I like sex? How do I feel desire? Is something wrong with me?

Popular culture would like us to believe that problems in our sex lives can be solved with a quick list of new positions for mind-blowing orgasms, but that’s not where women will find the answers they’re looking for. Permission for Pleasure takes a different approach.

Women are invited to embark on this pocket-sized sexual wellness retreat to uncover the roots of what they believe—or have been told—about sex and their bodies. While there are certainly how-tos on topics ranging from clitoral stimulation to vibrators and lube, this guided exploration goes deeper into the core questions and education women must consider to embrace and enjoy their sexuality for themselves.

In whatever season of life you’re in, you can begin a journey of discovery with this guidebook, which is filled with easy-to-read explanations as well as journaling prompts and practices aimed at equipping women with knowledge and confidence in their sex lives.

Your guide is Cindy Scharkey, a long-time nurse and educator who’s spent more than 30 years fielding questions about sex, bodies, and desire. She not only rounds up the current science and information women need to know about sex; she helps readers take it to the next level by learning how to examine and implement it for themselves.

Book Specifications: 

Book size: 6" x 9" portrait

Extent: 172 pages

Binding: hardbound with jacket

About the Author: 

Cindy Scharkey, RN, BSN, has been consistently exposed to the taboo and silence surrounding women’s sexuality over nearly four decades in healthcare as a Certified Childbirth Educator, OB/GYN nurse, and speaker. She is passionate about providing women with the education and self-confidence they need to find freedom on their own sexual wellness journey. As a podcast host and producer, workshop facilitator, and speaker, she aims to open the door to healthy conversations about expressing, experiencing, and enjoying our sexuality. She was married to the love of her life for 37 years and has three adult daughters who she adores.

For Lives tells the inspiring stories of four women united by a fundamental conviction: life is sacred.

Fannie Lou Hamer helped catalyze the Civil Rights Movement and black voter registration. Elizabeth Blackwell became the first female doctor in the United States. Mother Teresa dedicated her life to serve the destitute, diseased, and dying. And Eva Edl survived a communist death camp and faced 46 arrests and imprisonment for peacefully protesting abortion clinics she considers the “death camps” of America.

Their lives span different times, places, and cultural contexts. Yet serving the vulnerable and unwanted—especially the unborn—ties their legacies together.

These powerful role models challenge readers of all backgrounds to ask themselves how they too can impact a generation and live for life.

Book Specifications: 

Book size: 5" x 8" portrait

Extent: 160 pages

Binding: cloth bound, hardcover, with screen printing 

Endorsements

"For Lives: Inspiring Women by Wendy Beylik provides a primer on just a few of the many extraordinary women who have shaped the modern pro-life movement. Wendy recounts the historical events, personal trials, and experiences that have motivated women committed to justice for the preborn. Each chapter provides a succinct biographical snapshot, beautifully capturing the subjects’ brave witness and inspiring the reader to learn more."

—Lila Rose, Founder & President, Live Action

"I hope readers will see the value of life and importance of love; starting with the littlest of children in the womb."

—Eva Edl

Pub Date: 

November 2024

Think Outside journals are designed for a life as flexible as yours. 

Wherever the road takes you, have these crafted journals at hand to record your thoughts. Made of stone paper—a limestone-flour paper pressed and coated in a water-resistant resin—these journals are as durable as the rocks they are made from and built to carry with you into any conditions. Rain, sun, snow, and sea, these journals can take the elements so you can flow in yours.

Journals are sold in sets of two, with a unique design for each.

Journal Specifications:

Size: 5" x 8" portrait 

Extent: two journals, each 64 pages in size

Pub Date: 

November 2024

This poster shows all the local surf spots in the South Bay, from El Porto to PV. 

Poster Specifications: 

Poster size: 18" x 24" landscape