Our Life in Stationery - November Recap

Guys I truly feel like I just finished typing the October recap a minute ago and now November is already gone in a flash.  Things truly need to slow down.  With Thanksgiving in our rear view, Christmas is coming fast! It's definitely time to switch to our Festive Christmas Anxiety. Have you checked out our sale section? Hint, Hint, this card is on sale.

November kept us busy as usual.  After a few years away, we got to participate again in the Ridgely Middle School Craft Fair and it didn't disappoint.  The last time we did Ridgely was 2021 still in the height of Covid and so we had to set up our tent outside.  It was cold as to be expected but suddenly a storm came rushing in with strong wind gusts and rain.  We were holding on to the tent for dear life, cards were flying, and around us vendors with glass and pottery were dealing with things crashing to the ground.  And then our tent started to leak.  Water and paper goods do not mix, and we had to cut the day short.  

So all that being said, we were really happy to be inside this time! Outdoor markets can be a real crap shoot. It was a great turnout, we were warm and cozy, and we were really thankful to everyone who came out.   Old fans stopped by to chat, new fans laughed and helped us with card ideas and lets give a shout out to the woman who came by Bits and Bobs in October looking for Hello from Connecticut cards.  I told her I would bring them for her to Ridgeley and she came!  And I remembered them, which is an even bigger miracle! Brooks wanted to join us as an official Maggie Moore employee this time. He did not have quite the same patience as his brother Alex at Bits and Bobs Market in October and really just wanted to support other small businesses.  We can't blame him for that.

On the 12th I turned 53! Holy shit!  If you want to talk about time going by quickly, I'm not sure how the hell this has happened.  It was a low key birthday. I took a day off from Maggie Moore for myself, did a little shopping for books at the Ivy Book Store.  Gotta shop local on your birthday.  Treated myself to lunch and a fun coffee at the Corner Pantry.  It is just consistently, always so damned good! And just basically did stuff I wanted to do. 

And the day after my birthday I did a thing and went to see my new favorite writer, Catherine Newman on book tour for one of my fave books of the year Wreck.  This was a follow up to my favorite of last year, Sandwich.  She was a total delight and so hilarious.  She was appearing at Enoch Pratt Free Library downtown which is a Baltimore treasure and it was such a lovely evening.  The next day she even commented on one of my stories about hoarding Trader Joes Rosemary nuts as she is also a fan, so I feel like we're true pals now.  Have you tried those Rosemary Nuts? They're ridiculous. I'd like to see more authors on tour in the New Year because I am such a book nerd and it's kind of a cool thing to do. So you can check out future events at the library here. Or follow your favorite local indie book store for their upcoming authors stopping by.

Then came Thanksgiving! We did our pregame celebrating when Sam's brother (my cuz), Zack came in to town on All Time Low's Everyone's Talking tour.  We got the VIP treatment at the Anthem in DC to see the show which was the perfect way to kick off the holiday. We were out way past our bed time!

After a late night it was good to chill watching the Macy's parade and the National Dog Show (congrats Soleil) while I made creamed onions (it's a New England thing) and chocolate pecan pie bars. Sam crafted a kick ass grazing board. Sam's boys put on a concert with their Uncle Zack. Alex played a sweet harmonica and Brooks was not to be outdone on cowbell.  This was really the highlight of the day. 

We're coming into the home stretch of the year, which means for us in the stationery world we are working like crazy on a big new drop of Valentines and Moore as well as wrapping up fourth quarter finances.  Because it can't be all fun and games.  And all while putting our focus on Christmas sales! We will be at Bits and Bobs again at Cross Keys on December 6th and popping up at Brightside Boutique in Fells on December 14th.  So it should be a crazy busy month!

You can find Maggie Moore in four new stores which means we are now up to a grand total of 132. Can we bump it up to 135 by the end of the year? We are now in Lykos Pharmacy in Timonium. I delivered the order and was pleasantly surprised at their selection of local goods so check them out. Pick up a Maggie Moore card at Amazing Glaze in Bel Air. I honestly thought of it as a place to bring kids to paint a mug for Grandpa and was pleasantly surprised at their cool classes. I want to sign up to make a book vase! Another New Year goal. In Towson you can find us at Radebaugh's. How have I been in their greenhouse so many times and not realized they have a kick ass gift shop? And lastly in Pennsylvania you can find us at Snuggle Bunny Boutique in New Hope. Oooh I love New Hope. If you know of a store that should carry Maggie Moore let us know. We would love to reach out to them.