hump day nuggets: bits of the season in photos and words
If you start writing a Hump Day Nuggets on hump day but do not post it then, can it still be called Hump Day Nuggets? Yes.
Not football fourth quarter, the fiscal year. I’d come up with some great sporty metaphors if I knew anything about football. Wait: it was less like a tight end and more like a loose end. Har! I think I’m still a bit wobbly after the Cline / Dig fourth quarter. It absolutely was the fullest, most energized, exhausting, invigorating, stressful three months.
It started with my choice to lean into my business in a big way and outsource my blanket production at the Portland Garment Factory, which seemed like it’d be pretty straightforward (and thrilling, terrifying) hike-to-summit but instead it was more like a 50 false summits before I reached the top and I ran out of food and water. And lost my shoes and forgot a rain jacket. That whole story can be told some time that is much later than now. The guts: we did it! And I learned a ton and even paid my giant bills on time. And now we’re excited to work with PGF on many more things.
The choice to make a big leap with my business, to entrust a factory to make the work I’ve held close to my heart for years, to hire two new employees, to work like a sleepless machine making all the things happen was bigger than blankets.
Last year I said out loud that I wanted my work to place people, the planet and profitability on the same mantle. This was a big mindset shift for me as, for years, I’d valued people and the planet over profitability. In fact, I avoided thinking about or talking about P&L because I was rich in all the ways that mattered and grateful for my creative work with a flexible schedule that allowed me to be with my daughters. And, while all that is absolutely true, it is also true that I needed to shit or get off the pot with my business. It was limping along.
I’m learning: if your business is more profitable, you can support your employees bigger, buoy your family’s expenses braver and give back to people and the planet better. So this leap with the blankets is just the beginning of courageous choices, expansive thinking and stepping into my charge.
Onward.
Nuggets.
:: We had an Incredible and a Raccoon accompany us around the hood on Halloween.
:: My kids were incredibly helpful and understanding of my sudden bananas work schedule. We had many afternoons with them with me in my little studio, working on their projects and helping with packaging and tagging. And, of course, dogs always underfoot and ready for an ear scritch.
:: Ruby turned 10.
:: Margot turned 12.
:: Things Andy has recently acquired from the dump pile on job sites: a new television, a beautiful piece of marble, three rad old outdoor light fixtures and a neon tattoo parlor sign (currently hanging and functional on the side of our home)
:: We spent Thanksgiving at my parents house and I made a pumpkin pie even though I don’t like pumpkin pie.
:: Are you acutely connected with and affected by our changing climate? We sure are. And doing everything we can to try harder. And then to try more than that. As with all big things it can feel like, “what difference can I make?” Here’s the truth there: we own this mess and we must make a difference. No effort is insignificant and we can all do more.
:: One thing we do is to constantly evaluate our way of doing and consuming. And, one way we’ve reduced our waste is by making our own household products (a few recipes here). Everything from bathroom spray to dishwasher detergent. I have shared many recipes here, years ago, but have since improved our formulas and grown our DIY hygiene and cleaning arsenal.
:: My friend Erika (remember Erika?) and I will be did a Facebook live today sharing a few recipes. Here’s a PDF with four healthy, plant-based recipes if you’d like just go for it! Buh bye paper towels and plastic bottles. (And, hey, same shirt twice in one post!)
:: Wilma still likes to roll in all the poop. And we love her in spite of it.
:: We went to the Nutcracker with my parents. I am just so grateful they live here.
There ya have a bit of our last few months. I’d love to share here more this year and I’d love to hear from you! Tell me about your last few months. And, tell me what you’d like to see more of in this space.
with love,
Nici
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