week thirty-five 2025

Can you believe it's week 35? I know we have 3 more weeks until the Autumn Equinox but I'm feeling like summer is slipping by too quickly. The cool mornings, earlier sunsets, the cicadas who've given up, the random leaf changing colors and quitting on us, it's all leading us to fall and I'm not quite ready. 

While I'm busy trying to squeeze as much summer as possible into my days, we've been getting in 2026 planners. While we carry undated planners all year, we offer dated planners starting in September. We've gotten in three companies so far. I did cancel an order due to the illegal Trump tariffs, I don't see my customers paying 25% more than usual, so I'm desperately looking for alternatives. We'll have our stocked planners out this week. As well as several other newbies and Halloween goodies too! Here's a peek at some of the goods we restocked this week.

Fictitious Hotel Memo pads are back in stock! Grand Budapest Hotel and Rosebud always sell out first. It's getting to be spooky season so Bate's Motel, Camp Crystal Lake and The Overlook Hotel will be front and center.

We got in some super cute Retro Kitchen themed Japanese Stationery! I'm happy to report they cleared customs before the expiration of the U.S. De Minimis exemption on August 29th. Saving you and I both money due to Trump's illegal tariffs. 

Look at these vintage inspired labels! I love the designs and the colors. Each pack has 22 labels. We also received everyone's favorite letter set, the red panda. So cute. Always a favorite. We stocked up on the mini Tyrol stationery too. Perfect for junk journaling, scrapbooking and lunch box notes.

We also received several styles of 2026 Diaries from Mark's. I really love this company. The paper is smooth and thick, perfect for agendas. And the covers are pouches. You can store your phone, pen, ID, stamps, anything really. I'm predicting the cats will sell out first. I know how you all love your cats! 

This is a new size for us. A pocket size, grid paper notebook with pouch cover Lightweight, slim yet durable. Again, you can store stamps, pens, flash drives, stickers, basically all your bits and bobs in the cover. 

We restocked our most popular stationery-inspired candle, No. 2 pencil. I miscalculated our stock and we were completely sold out. Whoopsies. Our pals The Scent Queens Candle Co. stepped up and fulfilled our order in record time. Come and get 'em!

I printed most days last week. Including these double sided 140# cover stock appointment cards for Broken Roller Hair Shop. Summer, the co-owner, hired me to create their logo when they opened back in 2016. It was a fun project. I love the double O's with lightning. Music is a huge part of the culture of Broken Roller and influenced the logo design. Vinyl is always spinning and setting the vibe there. If you need hair stylists, give them a try.

Don't forget this Thursday is our monthly Letter Writing Meet Up! Join us Thursday, September 4th from 5pm to 7pm and share the magic of snail mail with other stationery enthusiast. As always, we'll have our vintage typewriters for you to use and a good selection of our pens to try out. You can shop our stationery, or bring your own. No RSVP required, first come, first served. Stay two minutes or the full two hours. BYOB.

Random, randomness...
•I listened to A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson on Libby. I love a fun Y.A. novel! This was a great and easy listen. Yeah, some of it was predictable but there were some fun twists and turns. I didn't realize that this is a series until now when I looked it up on Good Reads. I guess I have my reading list set for a month or two!

•Friday night Tom and I went to Bokeh for cocktails with friends Manny & Myriam. This is an Albany Park gem. Delicious cocktails, beautiful decor, good music and great vibes. Fun fact, I designed and letterpress printed their gift certificates. 

•Sunday we went to Taste of Polonia with our besties Jaime and Adam. This has been a Labor Day weekend tradition for us for over 10 years. The fest has changed very little in that time. You can always find amazing Baltic Amber Jewelry, Polish Beer, delicious Polish food and Gambling for charity. It's a blast and always a highlight of the weekend. By the way, Mr. Favorite was the only one to break even. 

That was the whirlwind of week 35! I'm guessing it speeds up from here.
Hang on, we're heading into the holidays!