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Written by Kim Fredrickson, Edited by Sarah-Jane May January is an inside kind of month. Weather is unpredictable. It changes from 70 degrees one day and falls to 30 the next. Every area is different of course. For the last year or 2, I am grateful to have re-discovered being outside and exploring my neighborhood. I notice the trees with their changing leaves, the flowers and shrubs changing from season to season. I notice the sunsets more and occasionally a sunrise. Along with this new awareness of nature, is a discovery of birds that visit our bird feeders. We have also had a wildflower and vegetable garden which has been home to tomatoes, jalapenos, bees, and butterflies to name a few (even a cat or 2 visits our gardens). Now that the ground is colder, it is time for winter gardens, sowing some outdoor seeds (like Purple Clover) and also for planting seeds inside. We have kale and beets outside currently. We decided to make a fun Guide to enjoying your January indoors with some of our great gifts and items: Garden indoors and out with our new Garden & Outdoors section Welcome to "Sow the Magic" an Asheville, North Carolina company that curates beautifully illustrated seed packets, crystals and even a "Gardener's Moon Calendar". The seed packets have detailed information about the type of plant, sowing instructions, and other intriguing details about the plant itself historically and symbolically. When you find yourself inside, you may want to read a good book like: Shannon Cohen's "Tough Skin, Soft Heart" for inspirational wisdom and motivation. Local Author, Park Cannon's "Universal Guide to Running for Office" "I Wonder Bookstore" by Shinsuke Yoshitake "Pocket Frida Kahlo Wisdom" "It's OK to Feel Things Deeply" by Carissa Potter "Styling the Stars" "Atlanta in Color" by Jason Davis Other fun items for enjoying your indoors: If you notice you need some reading glasses to go with your new book...we do have some great styles from Peepers. Inside time may also bring you the chance to write in a journal. We have several sizes, designs and styles from the tiniest by Unemployed Philosophers Guild to London's Kitsch Noir Journals. Cooler temps and rainy days indoors call for a nice cup of tea. Check out our new teas by The TeaBook, and of course the classic and locally owned Chai Box! Grab yourself a new mug to put that tea or coffee in! We have some great selections by hand created Bold and Dreamy, or the ever popular Citizen Ruth Brand, UPG, or Emily McDowell (seen above) Puzzles by The Found and UPG are a nice way to spend some indoor time. Perhaps this is the time that you begin to write cards and letters to friends and family. We have notecard sets by Dahlia Press and Up with Paper. We of course have individual cards just to say "Hello" ie: Pencil Joy, Driscoll Design and Erin Smith. If you are beginning to bird watch, Blackbird Letterpress has 2 beautiful cards of a bluebird and the red headed woodpecker. Stay Cozy! If you are venturing outside for a walk, and want a little cozy beanie, or balaclava we have some unique styles from Moshiki. If you are looking for a more rugged pair of socks, check out the recycled fiber Socksmith collections made in the US for hiking, and walking. Be sure to also check out the organic cotton socks by Zkano, made in Fort Payne, Alabama. January is full of changes. January is also full of a variety of journeys. We just became grandparents in December and are so gratefully over the moon about our granddaughter. Here's wishing you joyful journeys in January, whatever they may be. Thank you for choosing to shop with us. We truly do a little "happy dance" when we receive your order. All the best, Kim, Sarah- Jane, and Sophia

Written by Sarah-Jane of The Hello Gorgeous Team Check out these fantastic items we carry below that are sure to be a hit at your NYE party, or even to bring as a host gift or bit of fun with you to any party you attend this year, or just for yourself if you're staying in! These are our top 5 choices, but of course we have tons of other great items on our website in our Party Supplies section as well as the many other great items! #1: Tops Malibu Sparkle Wands Ring in the new year with one of these pretty and fun Sparklettes party sparklers! Choose between elegant gold or sparkly silver, these party sparklers are ready to be passed around and shared. Sparklettes emit a golden sprinkling of sparks and are a great way to bring life to the party. Beautiful as table top decor, party favors, or hostess gifts. #2: Em & Friends Party Dragon Napkins These cute and festive napkins are a hit for any party! And plus, dragons = breathing fire, which totally goes with the whole fireworks and sparkles in my opinion! #3: Tops Malibu Mini Surprise Balls Add a new tradition to your NYE party! Instead of party crackers, try these fun surprise balls instead. Each one comes with 3-5 fun surprise gifts inside that you reveal by unwrapping. Plus they come in lots of fun and different colors you can choose from! #4: InBooze Spiced White Sangria Cocktail Kit InBooze kits are the perfect addition for any party! Each infusion makes 8 to 10 cocktails, making it great to bring to a party or save for yourself at home! We have tons of great cocktail kits to choose from, but we think this Spiced White Sangria kit is totally NYE worthy! #5: Patchology Serve Chilled Rose Eye Gels And of course what better way to round out our NYE guide than with a little bit of self care! Patchology products are the perfect self care tools for New Years Day, when you're relaxing at home and recuperating from the fun night before. We carry a large range of their under eye patches, face masks, and so much more!

From the moment when I strike a match, candle lighting is a relaxing process for me. I always notice this, but particularly during this falling into winter season. Days growing shorter, nights longer, cooler, and darker, does take some getting used to. Once I do though, I look forward to the shift from golden hour to the dark sky. My home growing darker reminds me to light a candle. For me it is a moment of reflection; a pause, a moment to strike a match, touch it to the candle wick, wait for it to light, then see the candle light begin. As the fragrance begins to emanate through the room, the light flickering and dancing throughout the room, I feel a sense of renewed calm and purpose. During the fall and winter months, many "Festivals of Lights" are celebrated. From Diwali to Hanukkah, St. Lucia's Day, Las Posadas, and Kwanzaa. These celebrations remind us to welcome the new season. We honor, reflect, pause and celebrate while we light the candles. Outside people decorate their home with lights and decorations to honor their traditions. One common thread amidst all these celebrations of light is that we are looking for the light in the darkness and then celebrating that light. Check out our candle section here to bring some light to your home: Candles

I write this 2 days after the Atlanta Braves won the World Series 2021. A few weeks ago I read about Joc Pederson from a blog called "Alma" which led to me intensely watching the Braves play against the Giants, Dodgers and then the Astros. Why did I suddenly notice Joc Pederson? I noticed Joc Pederson after I read that he wore pearls. When asked why he wore pearls, he said, "Cause I'm a bad b-tch" Hey Alma (@heyalma on Instagram) went on to say that "Joc Pederson is Jewish, originally from Palo Alto, California and in 2013 Joc played for Team Israel in the World Baseball Championship." My parents used to take me and my siblings to see the Oakland Athletics play at the Oakland Coliseum. We sat in the cheap seats, the bleachers. I remember how happy my parents were. I remember watching the players like Rollie Fingers and Vida Blue. I remember that Colonial Donuts created a special donut in honor of Vida Blue - a blueberry donut. I also remember how wild it was when the Kansas City Royals would play the Oakland A's (ok the Athletics-but seriously they were the A's) The Royals and the A's had quite a few "skirmishes." My parents went to Spring Training in Arizona to see the A's play and also cheered on my daughters in their multi league and softball games. After my dad passed away, my mom invited college baseball players to stay in her home in the East Bay. The players were playing in summer baseball leagues and she went to all their games to cheer for them. At the time, I did not understand it. It was not until I was watching the Braves play that I realized how much my mom valued, treasured and truly loved the sport of baseball. It also made me see how much my mom enjoyed the camaraderie of the players, their individual personalities, and as she would say, "such a nice young man." which meant, "Oh, he's cute." My mom has had Alzheimers now for the last few years. Mom is almost 85. I am so grateful that she can live in her home with her dog Lady, with an amazing team of caregivers who make it possible. Mom does not recognize me, we cannot really communicate, and because of the pandemic, I have not seen her in person since January 2020. However, I know that if my mom could tell me, she would say how wonderful it was that the Braves came together and played an amazing season. I know my mom would be calling me and telling me how cute Joc, Soler, Dansby, Max Fried, and Rosario were. She would be saying "those nice young men." She would also be saying, "Those pearls!" As I watched games these last few weeks, I noticed that the majority of the players wear necklaces of gold, silver, and yes, pearls. Their "statement necklaces" if you will. What is your statement? What do you want your necklace to say? You can check out our statement necklaces and more here: Jewelry You can also find our Pearl jewelry here too: Pearls

October 8, 2021. Ever since I opened Hello Gorgeous Boutique, I have been fascinated by greeting cards. When I went to my first Stationery Show in New York it was amazing. It was the National Stationery Show held at the Javits Center. (side note: I worked at Le Pique Nique in Oakland California with Carla Javits-Senator Javits daughter) Being in a large room filled with beautiful booths imagined and put together by artists filled the room with an incredible creative energy. Meeting the Makers of the greeting card lines was so cool. For some it was easy, they were sociable and could chat with little effort. For others, it was more difficult, being their first show. For me, it was a true gift; Talking to each artist, learning about them and how they created their work. So here's the thing, I think some greeting cards are like poetry. Here's a definition of poetry from Bobby's college professor: Poetry is "an art form that gives extra meaning to words for the way they were chosen and arranged." When we were in our brick and mortar, people would come in to read cards. They would laugh, smile, emote, and pause. The words would speak to some, and to others not. Some greeting cards have words only. Some have words and artwork. Why do you choose a certain greeting card? What does it need to resonate with you? Wit, sarcasm, empathy, sweetness, colorful illustration, font, puns, or quotes? Now that we are on our website, it is more difficult to analyze each person's emotional response to cards. However I have observed through purchase information, that a lot of people are drawn to vintage-style cards with some sarcasm and wit. Like poetry, artists learn to create greeting cards that have meaning with carefully chosen words. Haiku, Limericks, and Sonnets all have particular formulas to follow. During the past 18 months, I have been reading poetry more than ever. I enjoy the simplicity and the power of the chosen words. Some of my favorites are Emily Dickinson, Nikki Giovanni, Gertrude Stein, and Sun Yun-feng. Sun Yun-feng was a native of Chekiang, the daughter of an official. "She married the scholar Ch'en and was one of the favourites of the thirteen women students of the Ch'ing Dynasty poet Yuan Mei." Starting at Dawn Under the waning moon In the dawn-- A frosty bell. My horse's hooves Tramp through the yellow leaves. As the sun rises Not a human being is visible, Only the sound of a stream Through the misty trees. Some of my favorite "poems" we offer on our website in Greeting Card and Sticker format: Greeting card by Crimson and Clover Studio: "Never let anyone treat you like regular glue. You're glitter glue." Greeting card by Erin Smith Art: "My decisions are final. My frame of mind when I made them is up for debate." Sticker by Shannon Cohen: "Speak life to the dreams of your own soul." Greeting card by I Loot Paperie: "Spooky season is upon us- Let us make merry and Shelley-Brate." Sticker by Amy Zhang: Emily Dickinson's "Prose before bros" For more poetry finds, I recommend The Penguin Book of Women Poets edited by Carol Cosman, Joan Keefe and Kathleen Weaver. I also recommend the Instagram account @theemilydickinsonmuseum Also, one of our Gorgeous Friends, Nancy Stephan, is a writer and an educator. She was kind enough to have 2 Instagram Live conversations with me. Check out her website nancystephan.com to see her wonderful poetry. I leave you with a poem by Emily Dickinson; Blossoms will run away- Cakes reign but a Day, But Memory like Melody, Is pink eternally-