week twenty-four 2025

Summer has officially arrived in Chicago! Last week was filled with fun in the sun.

In the shop, I printed about a 1,000 Yee Haw birthday cards and a ton of birthday bread. As well as two custom cards for a storefront in Charlotte. Well. I have a little bit of dyslexia and I grabbed the wrong job jacket and printed Charleston instead of Charlotte. Not great. On a positive note, my mom discovered the mistake before I spent time die cutting the second card. The tag design was fine but the heart design, was not. Ugh. We had to push back the ship date for the store, which I hate doing but I was leaving for Wisconsin the next morning and didn't have enough hours to print, dry and die cut. During the summer especially, the ink needs drying time before you can die cut so even an all nighter wouldn't have helped. 

I feel like last week had a nice, slow pace after hustling with so many home project deadlines and our summer kick off party. Tom and I used the time enjoying our yard and house and considered heading to lakefront to watch the full moon rise both on Monday and Tuesday but neither of us felt like leaving home. Which is unusual. I adore watching the full moon rise over the lakefront and really only go during the summer, so we have three or four chances and we chose to miss this one. 

I wanted to take a moment and share the awesome gifts our friends showered us with for our Summer Kick Off party! Funny story, it was Tom's party, I was just listed as a co-host because we're married. Yet, all the gifts were for me! Which is very sweet. I didn't get a pic of the perfect I want my NPR hoodie by Hairbrained (whose work I adore) gifted by my friends Curtis and Andrew from The Scent Queens Candle Co. & It's Lit Studio. I also neglected to snap a pic of the gorgeous flower bouquet from Ben of Floriography Fellows. Trust me when I tell you they are still stunning!

Look at these treasures! Oracle deck from The Scent Queens, a haul of Japanese stationery from Emily of Orange Beautiful, Pride Candle from The Scent Queens, towel and candles from Missy of Six Point Pet, vintage office goods from Tony and Jackie of Jackie Style. How lucky are we to have been showered with presents and the presence of these great humans!?

As mentioned earlier, Tom and I headed to Wisconsin last weekend. Tom's birthday is on Flag Day and we usually make the trek for Beer, Bacon, Cheese Fest in New Glarus, Wisconsin. It's a quaint village that has rolling hills and surrounded by farmland. It feels like a little piece of Switzerland in the middle of Wisconsin. Our friends Kim and Tony joined us for one night and we had an amazing time. If you're curious about New Glarus or Beer, Bacon, Cheese Fest or local shopping there, you can read all about it here. 

Saturday was the No Kings Protest, although I think it was more of a March. I was out of town and not part of the protest in a traditional way but from friends I know and pictures I've seen, it felt like more of a gathering and celebration of freedom. I saw people giving one another high fives, singing together, dancing and enjoying in the community of knowing we're not alone. It brought a lot of hope to many of us who are struggling with all the cruelty this administration insists on inflicting. Thank you to all who marched! I believe there are many ways to protest without marching. I personally protested by living my life and celebrating my husband's birthday. Joy can and is a form of protest. Especially in a time of oppression. It's apparent this administration thrives off creating chaos, encouraging violence and oppressing others. Another form of protest, I used cash all day long and shopped local. How is this a protest, you ask? I'm investing in fellow small business owners and putting more money in their pockets and their communities instead of huge corporations and banks. I also spent time in the morning meditating on peace and protecting those who were gathering. I sent love and protection to each and every one of them. Throughout the day I would whisper a tiny prayer to the universe to please protect all involved. Sure, I wasn't carrying a sign but I was doing what I could, where I was to help my fellow Americans. I'm horrified by the current state of our country and assassination of Melissa Hortman and husband Mark. I believe when the leader of your country speaks of harming and abusing and punishing political adversaries, it encourages others to do so. The hateful and violent rhetoric is toxic. People feel embolden to carry out this violence and it's NOT OK. This is not normal, friends. Political violence is harmful to the entire country not just one political party. I will keep doing what I can to make my life, my space and my community safe, however that looks. I hope you will consider doing the same. Remember - joy is a form of protest. Create your joy. Find your peace. 

That's it for week 24! Thanks for reading.