week three - 2025

Wow. Week three of 2025 is in the books. It’s hard to believe Martin Luther King Jr. Day is here. A day of service to our communities. It’s going to be freezing, arctic temps here in Chicago, I’ll be working which isn’t really a service but in a teeny-tiny way, I feel my cards are serving others. Making lives a little brighter here and there. I’ve been thinking about how I could serve best a lot lately. Mr. Favorite and I have talked about it at length. In the past I’ve volunteered making mats for the unhoused, I’ve donated to local food banks, shelters, after school programs, etc. but I’m feeling like I want to be more involved, not just throwing money at causes. Instead, I’d like to offer my skills and time to something greater than myself. I haven’t made any final decisions yet and may test a few options first. Time will tell. I’ll keep you posted.

Shop happenings last week
• Took down all the Christmas in store

• Moved holiday to the loft in the print shop

• I cleared all the surfaces in the shop and cleaned them - which took so much more time than expected

• Rearranged the entire shop - always fun after the fact!

• Put out Valentine's Day goodies
• Placed multiple orders with vendors for restocking the shop
• Installed hardware for lighting on the extended card wall

• Letterpress printed more valentines

• Cut stacks and stacks of cards
• Scored thousands of cards
• Opened shop back up after being closed for two weeks - and you all showed up! Thank you

This week is shaping up to be quite busy too. I’m taking part of an online wholesale market with Faire and prepping for upcoming events. I’m working on an in-store Valentine Event on February 8th. It’s gonna be amazing. The idea is to have all the goodies you need to make Valentine’s Day (or Galentine’s or Palentine’s or Treat Yo’self Day) special. We’ll be hosting Michelle Starbuck Designs for handcrafted jewelry. Floriography Fellows for bouquets, fresh or dried and spell jars. Katherine Anne Confections for chocolates and confections. Of course, we’ll have our Valentine's Day cards, love and friendship cards, like always. We’ll also have hot apple cider to sip on and some Valentine themed treats. It's the perfect time to shop local makers for jewelry, flowers, chocolates and cards all under one roof. 
Save the Date - February 8th, 11-5 at a. favorite design

Left to right - Top Michelle Starbuck Designs Logo, Lockets, Floriography Fellows fresh bouquet & logo
Bottom - Michelle Starbuck Designs Cameo, Michelle Starbuck Designs heart studs, Floriography Fellows dried floral bouquet, Floriography Fellows fresh bouquet

A BIG highlight of the week was a visit from a customer (Kelli) who lives across the street from the shop. Back in late October - the night of our Sip or Treat, Kelli stopped in after she saw the open sign still lit at 8:30pm, when we're usually closed. While Kelli was shopping we were talking about how amazing Japanese stationery is and she mentioned she was planning a trip to Japan and Korea. I asked “can we please have a show and tell when you return?". She agreed. Well, she’s back and while I didn’t get my show and tell just yet, she brought me a bag of the CUTEST stationery! I’m so touched Kelli thought of me and shared her treasures with me. I’m always telling friends and other business owners we have the best customers. And we truly do! You all are the kindest, most considerate and generous beings. I appreciate each and every one of you.

I have a lot of feelings about the upcoming week - dread, dismay, disappointment, disgust, doom, disdain and a whole lot of other words that don’t begin with D. However, if I learned anything from my past health scare, it’s being present is the only way to find peace. Time traveling to the future of what ifs or focusing on the past and what could have been only causes anxiousness and robs us of the magic of the moment. So that’s the assignment friends, staying present. Keeping your peace. Focusing on the things you can control. Like making comforting meals for yourself and/or your family, surrounding yourself with beauty, listening to amazing music, getting lost in a really good book, being a flow state and enjoying the company of the people you feel connected to and love. I hope you all do what you have to do to find peace. 

Stuff I enjoyed last week
• Listened to Tom Lake by Ann Patchett on Libby. The book was narrated by Meryl Steep and entertaining, especially for Midwest Girl like me. 
• My favorite recipe this week was Vegetable Enchiladas from Martha Stewart, although I cheated. I buy green enchilada sauce instead of making my own sauce like Martha. 
•Listened to Normal People  by Sally Rooney. When finished, I actually took my earbuds out, looked over at Tom and said - I hated that ending. So. Yeah. 
• Started the second season of Severance. So good. Only I didn't realize they're releasing one episode at a time. I was hoping for two. 

Of note
 - This past week was the second anniversary of my first breast cancer surgery. It’s hard to believe just two years ago I had invasive breast cancer. But here I am.  I’m so thankful I’m healthy and healed and have more life to live. In honor of my recovery, I went back and read my end of year post for 2023. It was good reminder of where I was and where I am and to focus on the things that really matter daily, not just in hard times. 

That's week three. Thanks for reading! And thank you to all who reached out last week. I really do have the best customers.