Cabin in the City

Books, cats and midwestern charm.

Lisa

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Small Goals // January 2019

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December is done and, I must say, I jingled and mingled to my heart’s content. Let’s check out how I did on those goals!

  1. Finish my custom orders ASAP. I finished them! They might not have been done as quickly as I’d like, but they’re finished.
  2. Meet up with my friends to celebrate the holidays. Done! I managed to do a really good job at this! It was super nice (plus, I found a new great restaurant in the process – try Don’s Diner, local folks).
  3. Go on a holiday date. Flop on this one! I’m OK with it, though. We squeezed in a lot of holiday cheer regardless.
  4. Watch 3+ Christmas movies. Done! I watched three corny ones on Netflix plus Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. It was a good year for holiday movies.
  5. Do some good! Done! My dad and I wrapped gifts again this year to raise money for the Wisconsin Humane Society. Plus, I gathered a few donations at my craft fairs this season.
  6. BONUS GOAL: Find the blue velvet dress of my dreams. I DID IT! Thanks, Nordstrom!

5/6. I’ll say that’s not too shabby considering how busy December was. As always, I learned some lessons about holiday stress and hope to do better next year.

When it comes to January, I plan on slowing down big time. December was non-stop crafting, entertaining and visiting – those aren’t bad things, but they are time-consuming. For January, I want to get back to a normal pace at home and maybe reestablish some good habits. As for New Year’s resolutions, I’m going to say no thanks. I find these small goals are much more useful to me than any resolution.

  1. Make it to the gym eight times. Classic New Year’s promise right here.
  2. Organize, declutter and repair my kitchen cupboards. This is a goal I’m not excited about, but it’s necessary.
  3. Read two books (maybe even three!). Over Christmas break, I read more than usual. It felt good! Let’s see if I can get through a few titles, including Michelle Obama’s memoir, this month.
  4. Try a new bake. I got two Christina Tosi books for Christmas that I need to break in! Also, I’ve got a craving for soft pretzels. We’ll see which one I tackle. Maybe this can be the start of a year of new-to-me bakes.
  5. Get rid of my oldest assignments at work. I don’t normally like to incorporate work goals into these posts – the work always seems to get done. But I’m tired of looking at 2018’s assignments in 2019. Time to clear the queue!

Alright 2019, let’s get these goals.

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Unpacking the Holidays

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Let’s face it: We work hard for the holidays! That’s why even though they’ve passed, I want to give them a bit of recognition (then onto those January 2019 goals!).

The Craft Fairs

This was my busiest craft fair season yet! Meaning I had two fairs, but for a low-key side hustler like myself, this is a big deal! And it’s also a lot of work.

But I think it really paid off! The Black Friday Makers Market + Pub-Crawl was really a lot of fun. It started out pretty slow, but ended up being fairly steady. I sent home a lot of good hoops, including some Home Alone-inspired ones.

The peak of the craft fair season (yes, the two-show season), though, was the Cream City Creatives show. It was a 2018 goal of mine to set up shop at a show in Milwaukee and I did it! it was a lot of fun! My heart was warmed to see a lot of my friends and family come out. A sweet pal of mine, hot off the heels of a months-long trip, stopped by – and she took home my one-and-only Gilmore Girls hoop. That made me feel pretty good.

The Food

December is always a good month for food. I mean, the Christmas cookies alone. But this month was particularly good because I got to hit up a new haunt: Don’s Diner.

Inside, it’s precisely the vibe I like. A mix of old-fashioned soda fountain and Grandpa’s den. It’s really great. And the food and drinks are top-notch. I ate every single bite of the Naughty Angel burger (a brisket burger topped with beer cheese sauce) and had the best flourless chocolate cake – with fermented raspberry sauce (trust me, actually very good) – ever. I want to go back all the time.

I also baked up some classics and new recipes this year. Obviously, pioneer molasses and cream cheese pillows were on the docket. I also made this Nantucket cranberry tart (good reviews), this mint-chocolate chip cheesecake (great reviews) and this silky chocolate pie (which I really liked).

The Shopping

I like to take a day off every December to tie up loose ends. Usually, this day is a bit stressful, but thanks to a lot of shopping in advance, this one was pretty chill. In fact, it was almost like taking myself on a date. I had a blast.

First I stopped at Stone Creek Coffee for a few gifts and their hilarious and wonderful seasonal Bumble blend for Christmas morning. It was nice just to relax there for a while and pretend like I was the kind of wealthy person that happens to be out and about in the middle of the day. It’s a fun charade.

However, all that compares to visiting Studio Ric Rak in the Wauwatosa Village. This is hands down, my favorite little antique store. It’s packed to the gills (in a good way, not a cluttered way) with vintage gems all at good prices. I stopped by to pick up a great piece of Pyrex for my mom, but spent most of my time checking out these handmade putz houses. The owner of this shop is so funny and charming and she makes these all from vintage ephemera. I love them.

After stopping by, I called my mom and told her about all the cute putz houses. I got one from Santa for Christmas. How about that. From her lips to Santa’s ears, I tell ya.

The Party!

As you may know, every year Michael and I host a day after Christmas party. I want to call it Boxing Day, but it seems too much to have to explain in case folks don’t know when or what that is. I digress.

I’ll say it: This was probably one of our best parties yet. It went off without a hitch! Without a single hitch (other than the late arrival of a cheese tray)! We managed to throw a party that wasn’t overly stressful and had just the right amount of food (and by that, I mean we still had leftovers, but not enough to last us for a week). This year was pretty darn relaxing. I got to just sit and shoot the breeze with my family while shoving my face full of spinach-artichoke dip and sipping sparkling wine (a new addition to the drink menu). It was great.

• • •

Well, that’s my silly holiday wrap-up. I hope you had a great one, too!

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Coming Soon // Cream City Creatives

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This one’s coming up fast, folks!

I’ll be at Cream City Creatives Holiday Market this Sunday from 10-3 at Turner Hall. It’s my first Milwaukee show, so I’m pretty darn excited! That was one of my goals for 2018 and I’m almost there!

You’ll find me and 50+ Midwest makers at this show. I’m personally excited to see what Renee Graef has to offer – she was an illustrator for American Girl! But there are lots of other folks, too, so you’ll find something for all those people left on your list!

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Small Goals // December 2018

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Let’s jump right into November’s goals!

  1. Bulk up my Kaminski Handicraft inventory to 50+ hoops. Done! Getting to 50 this time wasn’t quite as taxing as usual (but I still pushed myself pretty hard).
  2. Get organized with my stitching. I think I did OK with this one. I organized my spreadsheets a bit. Sure, my fabrics are folded up nice, but I’m still stitching on the reg!
  3. Get at least 50% of my holiday shopping done. If I had to estimate, I’d say I’m there!
  4. Visit my aunt Pat. Did it!
  5. Center myself. Getting there!

5/5. I’m pretty surprised that I made it! November is a busy month at work and at home (especially with a craft fair in the mix). I’m happy a lot of the work is behind me. Now onto December!

Of course, there’s still a lot of work ahead, too. I’ve got some work-related goals in the mix, but I’m honestly hoping to fit in a lot more fun than I did last year (last December was unduly stressful). I think the key to a good month will be doing festive things, but not pushing myself to go over the top (that’s where I typically go wrong). Got to work on that balance!

  1. Finish my custom orders ASAP. I’ve got three sets of custom orders in the works. I’m so grateful that people are coming to me with their original ideas! I want to get these out as quickly as possible to show my thanks (and so I can get ready for my last craft fair of the season!).
  2. Meet up with my friends to celebrate the holidays. This is one that always seems to get pushed to the backburner, but I’m hoping to see some friends of mine this month for a little Christmas cheer. I’m crossing my fingers for trivia!
  3. Go on a holiday date. Pretty much in the same vein as the above. Michael and I don’t go on too many dates (we are both homebodies), but I’m hoping to do something a bit Christmas-y together.
  4. Watch 3+ Christmas movies. This goal serves two purposes: to get me in the Christmas spirit and keep me on track with my work. A good movie will either propel me along as I stitch or will serve as a welcome break from the truly finger-numbing work.
  5. Do some good! My dad and I normally wrap gifts to raise money for the Wisconsin Humane Society. I’m hoping that opportunity comes up again! Otherwise, I got something else up my sleeve.

I was tempted to add what I’m considering a near impossible goal to this list: finding a blue velvet dress. It’s been a mission of mine for years (really). I’ve tried on my fair share, but haven’t found the one. If I do, I’ll call it a Christmas miracle and will feel amazing (even if I don’t nail all five of my standard goals).

Anyways, please share your holiday and December goals! I seriously love hear them!

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#Gratitude30 // Week 4

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Day 24: Knowledge

I’m going the easy route with this one, but I’m super thankful for Edgewood College and all the bits of knowledge I picked up there. While I occasionally had doubts about the place (that’s just me and my ever-changing interests), I realize now that there was no better school for me. This became especially clear to me recently when I talked with a former professor of mine doing some research for an upcoming book.

As a liberal arts college, Edgewood allowed me to pursue a lot of my interests and helped me connect the dots between different subjects in a really helpful way. It was a great place for a multi-passionate person like myself. So I’m so thankful to Edgewood, my aunt for recommending it to me, the newspaper there and my favorite professors.

Day 25: Comfort

I can’t believe it took me 25 entries to be thankful for my two cats! Mukki and Zara are pretty much the lights of my life. They bring me so much joy and also a lot of comfort.

It’s really incredible to me how sensitive they can be. When I’m feeling down or even just under the weather, they’re right there to cuddle up by me. Not to mention a nap on the couch with both of them, is just about the sweetest, most comforting thing in the world. Mukki and Zara, I hope you know how much you’re loved!

Day 26: Time

This is such a big topic to tackle that I’m having a lot of trouble. But I’ll say this. I’m happy for the time that I have. I’m happy I get to spend a lot of it with Michael and our pets. I’m thankful for every moment with my family and my good friends. And I’m thankful for all the good times that have passed.

Day 27: Luxury

Sure, it was a trip for work, but going to Sonoma County was probably one of the most opulent trips I’ve ever taken. I sipped on some tremendous (and tremendously expensive) wines, ate gorgeous meals and enjoyed every second. You might be sick of hearing about this trip, but damn was it spectacular. I’m thankful that I got to enjoy it.

Day 28: Work

I’ve had a lot of jobs in my day, and I’m incredibly lucky and thankful to have one I truly like. Working for Taste of Home is really a great joy. I’m so thankful to my two friends that helped hook me up with this job and to all the amazing creative people I work with every day. The fact that people applaud me for eating eight cheeseburgers is nothing short of a wonder, and for that, I’m so thankful.

Day 29: Creativity

I’ve said it once, and I’ll say it again: I’m the woman of a hundred hobbies. But you know what – that’s OK! I’m really and truly thankful to have all these interests. Whether it’s writing, stitching, baking or whatever vintage craft I’ve dredged up, I’m thankful that I have the time and enough talent to give them a go. Creative endeavors of all kinds keep me at my best!

Day 30: Self-Love

I immediately thought of this Instagram post when I saw this prompt. “If self-love says, ‘I love you,’ self-care says, ‘prove it.'” And I will say that I genuinely like myself (though I still have flaws abound), but in order to maintain that best version of myself, the person in me that I like, I need a bit of self-care. Like I said in my post about holiday stress, taking time to myself – be it grab some coffee, watch a good show or even a walk around the neighborhood – does me a world of good. I consider all those things to be forms of self-care.

I’m thankful this season that I can say that I like me for me and that I’ve got the time and means to prove it.

• • •

To everyone that tuned in to this #Gratitude30 series, thank you so much! I appreciate you reading!

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#Gratitude30 // Week 3

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Day 17: Weather

Milwaukee's First Snow

As much as I hate the darkness that comes with late fall, I have to say that I love the cooler temperatures and the regular dusting of snow we’ve been getting. It’s honestly a relief to me when it starts to get cold because I don’t feel the stress of taking advantage of every outdoor moment. Instead, I’m thankful to stay inside, put on my softest socks and start a new project.

Day 18: Food

I say it all the time, but I think it’s true: Food is one of the greatest joys in life. And I believe it to be true because a good meal, a delicious treat or a sip of something nice is an easy way to lift your spirits or warm the hearts of others. This year, I’m feeling pretty thankful that I get to make a living writing about, tasting and making all kinds of wonderful foods – be they homey, sinful or just plain good.

One of my favorite pieces this year was a definitive ranking of Pepperidge Farm cookies. It’s silly, but it was so much fun (also Milanos are the best)!

Day 19: Beauty

This is a hard one! But I will say that when we got to Jamaica, I cried. I cried at how absolutely stunning the landscape was. I had never been anywhere tropical like that before, so it definitely took my breath away. Getting to visit is something I’m truly thankful for.

Day 20: Friendship

Gosh, am I lucky to have friends like these! I’ve known these gals (and a lot of my close friends) for a long, long time – like 15+ years long! We don’t see one another every day anymore, but it’s such a heartwarming feeling when we finally do meet up and it’s like hardly any time has passed. And, seriously, it’s so wonderful to just shoot the shit and have them know exactly who, where and what you’re talking about. Plus, they’re a blast. Desperate for another gals trip soon!

Day 21: Technology

Sometimes I joke that our home is a graveyard of technologies of yore. I’ve got a handful of old cameras from the ’60s and ’70s, the 50s-era hi-fi and two typewriters – a Royal courtesy of one of my good friends and an old Remington 12 typewriter that belonged to my great-grandfather.

I’m happy I get to surround myself with these relics at home. They’re sort of comforting! Plus, they’re a lot of fun to tinker around with.

Day 22: Family

I love my family. They’re the folks that really helped me become who I am. My parents and my sisters have always been endlessly encouraging to me (though, they aren’t afraid to tell me to get a grip either!). The whole lot of them are talented, funny and exceptionally warm. I’m thankful to get to be a part of that kind of family.

And I’m thankful that Michael gets to be my family, too. He might not have the Kaminski laugh down yet or the training you need to track five simultaneous conversations, but he’ll get there! I love all of you!

Day 23: Scent

Transitioning from family to scent is a bit odd to me, but that’s OK!

While I’m most partial to woodsy scents, a nice bouquet is always welcome in my home (unless it has lilies – that’s one scent I’m not thankful for).

• • •

Thanks for tuning in for another week of #Gratitude30! I appreciate you all for reading.

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Keeping Holiday Burnout at Bay

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@notallgeminis 

It’s the holiday season. We all know what that means – holiday burnout time!

Personally, I’m well on my way. I’m prepping for this Black Friday Market + Pub-Crawl like there’s no tomorrow. And I’ve got pie crusts to make. And stuffing. Plus, a cake. Not to mention a house to clean and errands to run. But you know what, I’m doing OK.

And I think that has a lot to do with budgeting in free time.

Last year as I prepped for my first-ever fair, I was a disaster. I was getting up at 5:30 in the morning to stitch and then stitching the second I got home until I went to bed. Not to mention working my regular 9-5. I was giving myself zero time to relax, zero time just to sit and watch the latest season of Bake Off.

But this year, as we roll into Thanksgiving, I’ve been allowing myself some free moments. I took a break from stitching last night and got my nails done. It was amazing. And this past weekend, I sat down and actually enjoyed some GBBO without any interruption. Total bliss!

And while it’s tempting to just go, go, go (that is my MO after all), I realize that taking a bit of rest – even just an hour at the salon or 30 minutes of TV – can do a world of good when it comes to productivity. When I come back refreshed from these breaks, I’m a lot more focused on the tasks I need to accomplish.

It’s definitely going against my Aries nature (see meme), but it’s working out pretty well so far! So to all you folks out there that have agreed to make one too many Thanksgiving dishes or run a few too many errands, I feel you, but I also encourage you to take a break – even if it’s just a 15-minute coffee run. You’ll come back more refreshed and ready to take the holidays head on!

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#Gratitude30 // Week 2

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Day 10: Music

Several years ago now, my aunt had my vintage hi-fi refurbished (thank you, Mary!). And I use “my” loosely here – this record player was in my mom’s house when she was a child and then made its way to my great-aunt’s home where it served as a nightstand of all things for many years.

At any rate, this hi-fi is a total treasure to me. When I first moved into my house (and had no cable or internet), it kept me company. Now that it’s fixed up, this stereo gets even more use. I love putting on an album while I cook dinner or clean up around the house. I also like to show it off during book clubs and parties – I think people get a kick out of it and how great it sounds after 60+ years! But I have to say, I love this record player most during the holidays when I stack my favorite Christmas albums high and let it fill up the house as we ready for guests.

Day 11: Gift

One of the most touching gifts I’ve ever received was a wooden bead necklace from Michael. On its face, it’s a bit of chunky, funky jewelry (which is great!), but really this necklace is so special. It’s so special because Hillary Clinton owns the same necklace. See, when she was campaigning back in 2016, she stopped by Anthology, one of my favorite shops in Madison. There she bought this red necklace and she was photographed wearing it later that week.

The Christmas following the 2016 election, I opened up that same necklace and I cried. It was such a thoughtful and moving gift, and I’m so thankful that I’m married to someone that would ever put all those pieces together to find the perfect present.

Day 12: Wisdom

As much as I sometimes think I’m with it, that I’ve got a handle on the world (as if), I often get tidbits of wisdom that blow my mind. Most recently I was in a yoga class with a new instructor. As we were bending into our forward folds, she said, “Don’t push this pose to your limits in the first go. By rushing to the end, you can do more harm than good.” This resonated with me in such a huge way.

I am the kind of person that wants to push everything to its end as quickly as possible (I am nothing if not impatient). But those words really set my mind right and encouraged me to exercise a little patience and softness. So to this yoga instructor (a new face to me), a big thanks!

Day 13: Art

I can hardly express how thankful I am to have this piece of art in my home. I first saw this painting hanging up in the world’s craziest and scariest antique shop (R.I.P. Hoarders World). Over the course of several months, that painting moved from room to room there, though I never worked up the nerve to buy it. Eventually, my aunt purchased it for me as the world’s best birthday present.

It wasn’t until years later that I found out this is the most reproduced print in the 20th century and pretty much the kitsch version of the Mona Lisa. I don’t care what it is – I love this piece of art so much. It feels like home.

Day 14: Routine

I’ll be truthful: I’m not huge on routine (it’s the Aries in me). I am, however, big on traditions which are their own kind of routines, right?

Right. So let me say a big thank you to my family and Michael for indulging me when it comes to all the traditions I insist upon, like standing next to the Garfield cutout at the apple orchard (Michael’s favorite).

Day 15: Clothing

One of my most satisfying hobbies is sewing. Being able to take a few yards of fabric and have something to wear a few hours later is pretty cool to me. I’m thankful to my mom for teaching me to sew and for my sewing classes at school. Those were so satisfying! If only I could manage to dedicate an hour a day to a project like that again! Until then, I’ll just make simple stuff like this ridiculous cat skirt.

Day 16: Novelty

As much as I like tradition and dislike change, I sure do like a bit of novelty in life. I’m constantly picking up (and dropping) all sorts of new hobbies, like making paper flowers, latch hooking, building putz houses, making these plastic canvas villages and all sorts of stuff. I love trying my hand at something new and craft-related. I used to think of this as some sort of character flaw, like why can’t you just be into one or two things, but now I see it as a strength of sorts. So I’m thankful that I haven’t run out of weird, novel crafts yet and I’m thankful that I’ve got the personality that makes embracing them fun!

• • •

See you next Friday with another round of #Gratitude30. Also, next Friday is the Madison Makers Black Friday Market + Pub-Crawl. Local folks, I’ll see you there!

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#Gratitude30 // Week 1 (+Some)

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I’ve said it before, Thanksgiving isn’t much my holiday. This has everything to do with the food (not my favorite dishes) and absolutely nothing to do with the sentiment behind the holiday. In fact, that’s the part I love the most about Thanksgiving – being around my family and spending some extra time together. But instead of just being extra thankful for them for one day (I’m truly thankful for them all the time), I figured I’d spend the whole month putting a few more grateful vibes into the world.

I’m following @positivelypresent’s Instagram challenge for this one despite this not being Instagram. I’ll be posting Fridays the rest of the month. Now, on with the show!

Day 1: Home

A cabin in the city

Words cannot express how happy my home makes me. It’s tiny, funky and it manages to contain my greatest loves: my husband, our cats and our cozy life. Truly, there’s nothing better to me than cozying up on the couch with the three of them, a few fluffy blankets and an episode of Bob’s Burgers. It’s how I know things are right in our world.

Day 2: Inspiration

When it comes to my day job (and life, too!), I get unending inspiration from my family. Without my mom, I’d never been able to hack it at Taste of Home. She taught me almost everything I know about cooking and baking. And without my family’s stories and history, I’d never be able to write nice pieces like this one about my great-grandma’s long-lost cookbook.

Day 3: Love

Michael is my true love. Again, words can’t adequately express how wonderful this man is. He makes up for all I lack with his tender heart, incredible patience and boundless talent. He’s also encouraging, thoughtful and generous. I couldn’t ask for anyone better to have as a life partner.

Day 4: Color

OK, this is where the challenge is more suited for Instagram, but hey, I can groove with it. I am grateful for color after all and how it punctuates the best parts of my life. My home’s most prominent feature: decidedly not trendy avocado green carpet (which I love). My bedroom walls: a too-green green that my dad dutifully painted for me – all three coats worth (thank you, Dad!). My garden: full of magentas, ruby reds, violets, indigos and golds.

Day 5: Happiness

Happiness isn’t an all-day, everyday kind of thing, which is why when it comes along in a big way, I try to be thankful for those moments. I have to say seeing the Pacific for the first time this September, was a moment of pure happiness and joy for me, and I’m thankful I got the opportunity to do it!

Day 6: Words

I’m just happy that words play such a huge part in my life. Words are the reason I met Michael (thank you, college newspaper!), they’re how I make a living (hey, Taste of Home!) and how I derive a lot of joy.

Day 7: Memories

In the words of Demetri Martin, “I remember when I was into nostalgia.” It’s totally true, though. I’m a big time reminiscer. And I’m thankful that I’ve got a lot of great memories to look back on after just 29 years. I can’t pick a favorite, because we’d be here all day, but I love the memories that come along with our annual post-Christmas party and I’m so thankful that I get to carry on this tradition that my aunt started years and years ago!

Day 8: Nature

I am so thankful to live in a state with as much natural beauty as Wisconsin. As much as I love the dense forests of northern Wisconsin and the Kettle Moraine, I have to say I love the Great Lakes the most. Sitting on their shores is really centering, most especially alongside Lake Superior. It’s harsh and cold, but it’s also humbling and calming.

Day 9: Laughter

This is my dad telling a very bad joke, but we all still laughed. I’m glad that I’ve got a great dad that likes to shoot the shit, tell stupid jokes and doesn’t mind it when I imitate his distinctive laugh. Thankful to you, Dad!

• • •

I’ll be back next Friday with more #Gratitude30!

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Coming Soon // Black Friday Market + Pub Crawl

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Good news, everyone! Madison Makers Market is back with another makers fair and pub crawl event. And you know Kaminski Handicraft had to be there! I had so much fun at the spring show that it was easy to accept the invitation to be in the Black Friday one. I’ll be back at Old Sugar Distillery, too, which is, in my opinion, the best spot on the pub crawl route. They’ve got some really terrific craft cocktails – perfect for sipping while you shop.

I’m so excited that this event is on Black Friday! I’m not a Black Friday shopper myself – I just can’t handle the chaos. But I really love this alternative for shoppers that want to support small businesses and also take the biggest shopping day of the year just a bit slower. And seriously, what a fun thing to do with family and friends who have come in from out of town!Hope to see you there!