Blog

If animals make anyone happy, it's our very own E.B. Goodale. I mean she adopted a stray cat while on vacation in Mexico and brought her back home. So for those of you stuck on holiday gifts, I asked Emily to round up her fave ideas for the animal lover. Read on for her picks from the woodsy to the exotic ... 

1) No crazy cat lady here. This top is a hip addition to any cat lover's wardrobe.

2) You might have seen Becca Stadtlander’s illustrations on the cover of books, on cards in your local boutique, or in the pages of the New York Times. Her nostalgic, folk inspired paintings are filled with life and this zebra print is no exception.

3) This cutie little bear note card is the perfect way to say, hello, thank you, sorry, whatever!

4) Open your beers with style. These funky bird bottle openers are bound to stay out on display as they are a work of art!

5) Whether for a child or an adult, this book by Akiko Miyakoshi is absolutely stunning. The shadowy, charcoal illustrations tell a story about a group of animals that help a lost girl find her way through the woods—a must have for animal and book lovers alike!

6) These mugs are simple and classic on the outside and then have a surprise friend on the inside. I had one of these as a child and it was my favorite mug! It's like a little world inside your tea.

Read more

For my holiday gift guide, I'm sharing my passion for everything green and in bloom. Here are some lovely items I've been eyeing that would make great gift for aspiring and seasoned gardeners alike.

1) For that person who has a cutting garden or stands for a good hour in front of the flower section at Whole Foods (you know who you are!), this gorgeous book will open the world of decorating possibilities.

2) I love this high contrast poster by Leah Duncan—a show stopper in any room.

3) Smudge Ink's floral mini calendar will help pass the cold winter months until spring. And did I mention succulents are in it?

4) Durable and water proof, not to mention very comfortable, Muck Boot Co. gardening shoes are my all-time favorite. 

5) Not only does this tall planter look good, its height also allows for maximum sunlight for all those sun-hungry plants out there (when you don't have a ledge or table near a window).

6) Spoil someone with luxurious hand cream. This one has a mild scent, and its moisturizing capabilities do the trick for me every winter.

Read more

What? Holiday gift guides, already? Yes, because if you're like me, you do not want to relive the frantic last-minute search for gifts and stocking stuffers and the bad decisions that resulted. Knowing what to get is half the battle! So we're kicking off our Holiday Gift Guides series with my top picks for the dude in your life!

1) Gone are the days of the giant flip wallet that merely collects forgotten receipts, credit cards, and coupons. This slender and utilitarian wallet is basically the iPhone of the wallet world.

2) Celebrate the briskness of the season with a pair of semi-luxury sweatpants—perfect for general lounging, early morning front porch newspaper runs, and Sunday football watching.

3) And for all of your gift wrapping needs this holiday, please use Smudge Ink's both handsome and cozy plaid wrap.

4) Whether one grows a five o'clock shadow or full on beard, maintenance is still necessary. What better dude gift than a shaving set for the busy and/or lazy man in your life. Or better yet, how about one of these shave subscription plans?

5) Make sure your guy stays in style wherever he is headed with this waxed canvas dopp kit from Ball and Buck. Built to last many business trips, camping weekends, or gym sessions. 

6) Finally, dudes smell. And no dude wants a frilly candle. ILLUME's candles with warm gender neutral/masculine scents such as Wood Fire and Balsam and Cedar are the perfect balance between refined and rustic. 

And there you go—happy shopping!

Read more

Ready or not, holiday shopping time is here! I actually enjoy finding the right gift and then wrapping it all up in pretty paper and ribbon. However, I am not a fan of the crowds, long lines, and tired feet after what can feel like aimless searching (and last minute desperation). So in an effort to ease your shopping woes this season, we created our very first gift sets, which are available exclusively online starting today! 

Our gift sets include six of our best and brightest letterpress cards and come in one of the following fun collections: Grab a Pen & Be Social; Just Us Girls; Party Animals; and Dog Lovers.

It might be hard to choose which ones to get but once you do, your work is pretty much done: everything arrives ready for immediate gifting! The collection of hand-picked cards is packaged in a kraft box, tied with gorgeous metallic cotton ribbon, and topped off with a letterpress to-and-from tag to complete the look. We told you we wanted to make it easy!

Grab a Pen & Be Social Collection. For the social networking fiend who also likes to put pen to paper. CHECK.

Just Us Girls Collection. Because life is better when you’ve got your girl gang and a giant margarita (to lounge in)!

Party Animals Collection. From the gallant gater to the wise owl, these balloon-toting animals are ready to celebrate big time.

Dog Lovers Collection. Paper ... pups ... pups on paper? A no-brainer combo! 

(photo credits: Arielle Doneson Photography)

Read more

Earlier this month, I flew to Berlin and then Vienna with my mom for an eight-day birthday trip. Both of us celebrated milestone birthdays this year, and we decided that the best way to usher in a new decade was to go on an adventure abroad. It was a treat to spend quality time with my mom, leaving behind the usual logistical conversations and car seat swapping back home. Exploring both cities was invigorating and offered some much-needed perspective. 

Berlin is an enormous city, rich with history and impressive architecture. We got around mostly by foot, bike, and train, and also took a boat ride on the river Spree. Our local friend, Jan, drove us around a bit too. It was fun to see Berlin from so many different perspectives. The Boros Collection was one of two museums we visited and stands out not only for its contemporary art collection but also for how the art interacts with its setting, a World War II bunker (built by Hitler’s regime). I won’t forget the delicious lunch we ate at Neni. The incredible views, middle eastern inspired food, flowing wine, and hip and friendly atmosphere made for an unforgettable time. When talking to a young local a few days later, I learned Neni was his favorite hang out, so naturally I felt cool and of the moment (a rare thing these days). Other Berlin highlights are the Bauhaus Archive (stars aligning on the design front for me); Tempelhof, an airport turned park and location of the Berlin Airlift; and a big old bike ride we took around Mitte, Friedrichshain, and Kreuzberg.

(image: Boros Collection)

(image: more Boros Collection; walls within the bunker)

(image: outside the Bauhaus Archive with a certain special card)

After four days in a large, action-packed city like Berlin, it felt good to arrive in Vienna with its cobblestone streets and quaint flower shops. Seriously, we walked for three days straight following our noses around neighborhoods, in and out of shops, discovering for ourselves the city of music. My daily and significant intake of Austrian wine was countered by my exploratory morning runs along the Danube. And let’s not forget about those Vienna coffee houses! Although I couldn’t partake in apfeistrudel (apple strudel = gluten bomb), we did enjoy a few afternoon coffees contemplating our next Viennese adventure.

The biggest highlight was stumbling upon Feinedinge on our last day. What started out as innocent window shopping turned into a fascinating studio tour of this Vienna-based porcelain maker. The combination of a stunning color palette and delightfully simple forms made me swoon over every single piece. As much as I wanted to take something home, I knew porcelain would not last more than five minutes in my house full of boys. Other Vienna highlights were visiting the MAK (basically a design think tank) and the Vienna State Opera.

(image: Protea flowers in Vienna)

(image: Feinedinge's showroom)

(image: Feinedinge's work space)

Overall, I couldn’t have asked for a better travel adventure. I came home feeling inspired and grateful for the chance to step away for a moment from my everyday life.

(image: dinner on the Danube on our last night)

Read more