When I decided we should give you all one more opportunity to order a mug, ha, well let’s just say we were surprised. In the two days left to order mugs, sales blew up beyond what we could handle with our team that was just cut in half. In fact, I had to make some calls to bring part of the team back just to get through the orders on hand. There were some mixed feelings in there, feeling the love and support from everyone ordering, and also the mourning of the end of an era of a product that fueled the start of MudLOVE.
Since then, I don’t think there has been one day that goes by where we aren’t asked about our mugs, especially through the holidays. So why? Why did we make the decision to stop making mugs?
Answers like this in small business often aren’t black and white, which in this case is no exception. I don’t intend to list all the reasons, as I don’t think it’s necessary at this point. What I will say is that the company hit a point of needing a big change. We needed to simplify the business and focus on doing one thing really well, and not do a lot of things at a mediocre level. The business was already in a pattern of shrinking. We had to accept some short-term pain for long-term gain. In the moment, the pain was real, and the long-term gain felt like wishful thinking. However, we are here, and we have owned and reclaimed a pillar sales part of our business that helped us outgrow the garage back in 2011.
Today, we have positioned ourselves as a market competitor in the world of custom bulk bracelets. Lame, right? Well, if reading this because you only cared about our mugs, I totally get it! It’s not that glamorous to a mug connoisseur. However, as I thought about MudLOVE without mugs during this process, I took a hard look at what really helped scale the business, and it was bulk orders of bracelets. It reached the masses and helped us grow organically as people were given our product as a gift at an event, which then grew our purpose of love in action as people talked about the bracelet they were wearing. The non-profits, churches, schools, small or large businesses that wanted to use MudLOVE to spread love to their constituents through a simple bracelet was exciting back then, and to me now has breathed new excitement into the future of the brand.
Let me explain a little more why this isn’t actually that lame. If you want to buy bracelets in bulk, your options are limited. You can go cheap with a throw-away silicone bracelet as everyone knows, or you can try the traditional friendship bracelet you see the Swifties wearing today. There’s actually a big void here in the market, in products and in brands with a purpose. As an entrepreneur, exploring the void is what makes it exciting. Simple features, something as simple as having an adjustable - one size fits all - bracelet has never been a bigger deal to us as the competitors rely on the customer picking the right sizes for 1,000+ people. Gender neutral, plastic and silicone free are some other little things. We’re leaning into the details that matter but aren’t “cool”, and working to get the word out about what we can offer to our customers.
As far as what is “cool” with the Swifties or Taylor Swift followers, we launched our own gender neutral, plastic free, adjustable (of course) friendship bracelets in bulk last year to try to ride the trend. Check them out here. I’d like to be able to say that decision was a part of our master plan, it wasn’t. We just happened to finally figure out an efficient way to mass produce our own beads and ran with it. Call me crazy, but If handcrafted friendship bracelets being produced in mass volume that help women and their children break out of the cycles of poverty isn’t exciting, then I don’t know, I guess maybe I am a little crazy.
Despite my excitement, I can finally accept we may not be your mug of tea anymore. Our strategy is to be a unique, impact brand that has a competitive edge with product and price in the event and gift space, specifically bulk bracelets and accessories. It’s niche, it’s different, but it’s what built this brand in the first place and we’re all in again. It’s not going to connect with everyone we’ve worked hard to reach and keep engaged since the beginning, but it does feel good to get these words out, and be unapologetic about it because it’s something we needed to do for the future of the company.
If you do find yourself looking for small, but meaningful gifts for the people you serve, we’re here to help! In fact, we will be running a bulk promotion every month offering bigger discounts and new product features. We’ve recently implemented a way to customize the clasp of our woven friendship bracelets, created friendship bracelets on elastic that lets us offer our biggest bulk discount yet, and we are currently working on a customizable keychain.
Thanks for taking the time to read this and learn about what we’re up to these days. It’s been a challenging past year, but I believe the challenge has made me better, us better, and our purpose better.
w/love,
Luke
Founder
P.S. A frequently asked question is: “Will you ever bring mugs back?” We don’t know at this time, but we know how much they have meant to our community, and that will never be forgotten, and so the idea of bringing mugs back will never leave the table.
]]>Story by Deborah Garrard
Glitter. Velcro. Mud. I’m not a fan. Glitter gets into and onto everything. Velcro? Well, it’s just annoying and noisy, not to mention it can ruin a fabric in a nanosecond! You get the idea. And Mud? Well, it’s just messy. Really messy. But so is Love. Messy and meaningful and magical, especially if it “Starts with Mud, ends with LOVE.” Love changes everything.
I first encountered MudLOVE bracelets at a cool and quite special store in Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island in north Florida. The store, owned by a dear friend, Laurie Moffitt, and her family sells “gifts with a purpose.” (Sound familiar?) I don’t know which bracelet I selected first, but one became two became three, and . . . you can see, became five. And five became a story: If you have a dream, it helps you imagine the possibilities, which gives you hope to inspire others to explore the possibilities of their dreams, too. You’ve got to have a dream!
My dream? To create a world where being mindful is our default setting, eating (yes, eating!) is spiritual practice, and serving others is an organic result of our own deep healing. To create a world where more people are well than ill, where people are healthy, joyful and generous, being well and serving well. “It’s not a sign of good health to be well-adjusted to a sick society.” Tagore Rabindranath
In 2020, with a passion for serving others, I began a nonprofit wellness initiative, "be(e) well serve well", whose mission is to serve those who serve. I believe each of us is here to serve, and we simply can’t serve well (or long) if we are not well. Too many people we all know are well-adjusted to a sick society and convinced that’s a sign of good health. It’s not.
Our mission to educate and empower the overall wellbeing – mind-body-emotions-spirit – of those who serve in our communities, especially a couple of un-seen and under-served groups of people: faith leaders (all faiths) and teachers. (Can I get an “Amen!”?)
What’s MudLOVE got to do with all this? Plenty! MudLOVE products serve. They serve well. They bring giving full circle. They serve and inspire, and that’s what we hope to do by giving MudLOVE bracelets to our donors, sponsors, and community. Who needs another T-shirt?
Each April, we host an annual spring fundraiser, For the LOVE of Teachers. Each participant receives a MudLOVE bracelet as our way of saying “thank you.” The first year, it was a custom bracelet that said “teachable.” The second year, it was the first word of our tagline: “explore.” Better than that, each participant names and honors a teacher by their participation, and each honored teacher receives a bracelet that says “LOVED.” Because no one needs another T-shirt! And everyone needs a little Love!
MudLOVE. Starts with Mud, ends with LOVE. No glitter or Velcro needed. Just a whole lot of being well and serving well, which sounds to me like a sign of good health!
Thank you for sharing your story, Deborah! If you would like to connect with her further, check out her non-profit, be(e) well serve well.
Fundraising for your own cause? Check out our bulk ordering options!
]]>From the very start in 2009, MudLOVE has always been about uniting world changers and inspiring initiatives of love and kindness. When a group of people motivated for the same mission reached out and shared their story with us, we couldn't help but be amazed! Their story is inspiring to us and will be to you too, keep reading to learn more!
After starting a two-year fundraising campaign for a new building the very first week of COVID-19 lockdowns, Genesis Church was blown away by the generosity of their church. This initiative, called "Greater.", was not only an effort to raise $7.5 million to fund a new church building, but also to create change in themselves, their community, and the world in the process. Since the mission of "Greater." was to create a change in their community, it only seemed fitting that they bless others through the blessings they were receiving from God. Throughout the campaign, the church was able to give away over $650,000 of the money they received, through partnering with missions outside of their church, such as foster care programs, schools, and other churches.
By the end of the campaign, they could not have been more grateful to their church and wanted to give something to remind their church family of the incredible work that had happened through "Greater." As they were searching for something to encourage the congregation in continuing a full-church mission, it was clear that promotional items like magnets and cards wouldn't fit the bill, so they began looking for something more durable that would provide meaning to the members of their church. When students reminded them of MudLOVE, they began the process of bulk ordering custom bracelets that would say "greater."
The bracelets were an absolute hit. Within one week, nearly every bracelet was taken, by adults and children alike! Unlink other promo products, the "Greater." bracelets offered a unique senes of meaning and authenticity, capturing the attention and affection of many. It is beautiful to hear of how a simple word can make such an impact on a community.
Thank you to Genesis Church for sharing your story with us! We are so inspired by the impact you have had in your community, and can't wait to hear how you continue in your mission and continue to make a change in the world.
Do you have a story you want to share with the masses? A cause you want to motivate people towards? A campaign you are fundraising for? MudLOVE is thrilled to have recently expanded our impact through bringing on additional options for bulk ordering. Check it out now!
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P.S. Never fear, every product in each order still provides one week of clean, safe water to someone who needs it!
]]>Sometimes a leap of faith becomes a place of belonging. Our friend, Sherry, realized just that in her journey to becoming a nurse! Let's hear her story!
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Sometimes a leap of faith becomes a place of belonging. Our friend, Sherry, realized just that in her journey to becoming a nurse! Let's hear her story!
Interestingly enough, I wasn’t. When I was in high school, I wanted to be a P.E. teacher or go into law enforcement, nursing was never something I planned to do. Towards the end of high school, I met my husband, and we got married, so I didn’t want to go back into school right away. After a few years of working at a factory, I decided that that stunk, so I started looking for something that I could make a living at, but that I wouldn’t have to do a full four-year degree. Back then, nursing was an associate’s degree, and I knew I could make a decent living, so that’s what I did, but God definitely knew that’s where I belonged!
By the end of my time in nursing school, I was pregnant with my oldest, and took the boards right before he was born! The exact day he was born is when I got my nursing license. My husband went home to clean up and when he checked the mail, it was there. He opened it up to make sure I passed (what a good husband!) and then brought it to me in the hospital. Obviously, we were celebrating, and as the nurses at the hospital were coming in and out and we were telling them I had just gotten my nursing license and were chatting about the job. About two weeks later I got a phone call from the OB department, and they offered me a job! I hadn’t applied, but they knew that I had just gotten my nursing license and had an open position. I accepted and did that for a year, and then moved over to family practice, where I’ve been for the last 21 years.
Originally, I got the bracelet when my son and I were training for a Spartan race. It goes along with my favorite Bible verse, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 that says, “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
As we were training, I was looking for some extra inspiration and grit, and the bracelet did just that! Though we didn’t end up doing the race for various reasons, I still wear it when I need to dig my heels in and get serious about something. I feel really pumped up when I wear it, so it graces my wrist often!
It’s generally just a really encouraging bracelet! Nursing is a challenging profession in a lot of ways. Everyone is understaffed right now, including family practice. It’s a good reminder for me that there are so many things that need to be done, but I’m the one who needs to do them. No one else is going to do them, so I better get moving and get it done!
I would say to always be honest! Don’t get caught up in gossip. Remember that every patient is someone’s loved one, so fight fiercely for your patient’s rights! To young nurses, I would say: hang in there! It gets better. I know that nurses have a reputation of “eating their young”, and it ultimately makes us more empathetic to one another, but it really does get better!
Thank you so much, Sherry, for sharing your story with us! We're so inspired and grateful for your work as a nurse!
If you have a loved one who is a frontline worker, pick up a Frontline Hero bracelet pack for them for 25% off this week.
]]>Can procrastination ever really lead to good? After putting off a doctor's appointment as long as she could, Lee Anne Stewart learned that it, in fact, could be beneficial.
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Can procrastination ever really lead to good? After putting off a doctor's appointment as long as she could, Lee Anne Stewart learned that it, in fact, could be beneficial.
When a doctor noticed some odd symptoms and suggested she make another appointment, Lee Anne dragged her feet making the appointment; however, in August of 2013 when she went to the appointment, she learned that she had ovarian cancer and would need treatment. It turns out that procrastination was her greatest ally in disguise, since if Lee Anne had made this appointment any sooner, the doctors may not have found the tumor.
By Christmas that year, she was in remission, but during this time, her students purchased and wore turquoise MudLOVE bracelets saying "strength" to encourage and support her in her battle. The photo of her dance students wearing their bracelets still sits in the studio, reminding the dancers to remain hopeful through hardship.
Now, nine years later, Lee Anne has been diagnosed with stage three uterine cancer, and her students are wearing coral "courage" bracelets to support her. In an article written back in 2013, Lee Anne shared, "There is a light at the end of the tunnel. The treatments are hard, but I would do it all over." While she never imagined she would have to do it all over, she says she feels so much love and support from her family, friends, and church as they pray for her daily, and that with the advancements in science, she is feeling much better physically and emotionally this time around.
Thank you to Lee Anne for sharing her story with us, we are encourage by her strength and hope in the face of adversity! We are sending all of our thoughts and prayers as she continues to work towards remission.
While we don't encourage procrastinating, it did just happen to work out in Lee Anne's case. Learn more about preventative care for yourself and your loved ones at cancer.org.
Do you have a phrase that encourages you? Share the love with a friend by sending them a bracelet! Thinking about a word we don't already have? Check out our custom bracelets!
P.S. Order 12+ bracelets and receive a discount!
]]>Happy International Women's Day! Here at MudLOVE, we are surrounded by so many inspiring women. Today, we want to share about three of those women with you! As part-owners of MudLOVE, Whitney, Erin, and Courtney have each played a vital role in who we are as a company. There is so much wisdom in each of their responses and we can't wait for you to get to know them better!
]]>Happy International Women's Day! Here at MudLOVE, we are surrounded by so many inspiring women. Today, we want to share about three of those women with you! As part-owners of MudLOVE, Whitney, Erin, and Courtney have each played a vital role in who we are as a company. There is so much wisdom in each of their responses and we can't wait for you to get to know them better!
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Whitney Wright is the founder of Bel Kai, MudLOVE’s sister business. She also oversees sales and marketing here at MudLOVE, and she works closely with our brick and mortar shop, Belove. She’s an artist, wife, mama, and the Co-CEO of MudLOVE!
What advice would you give your younger self?I would tell myself to never stray from what I enjoyed as a child, whether they be skills, jobs, responsibilities or simply, the things I delighted in. A good chunk of my adult life was spent in a painful and lonely marriage; joyfulness took a hit. Some of the years spent having babies and raising toddlers - a rich time of life, but can also be accompanied by a bit (or a lot) of lost self. I know the marriage positively weathered me but in the midst, there was surely grief and a straying from who God created me to be. As I've found my way back, it feels as though my adult life, in career, motherhood, marriage & friendship, mirrors the cherished childhood experiences of joy and giftings of a littler Whitney. I'm often reminding myself that I'm that same preschooler that loved to organize & sort, the same 5th grader that loved to create, the same teenager that spent hours writing. There is such a beautiful assurance in this practice and lesson.
What advice would you give to a woman looking to start their own business?Learn and immerse yourself in every part of the business, from accounting to marketing, production to operations, from shipping to photography, every arm of your business. Whether you are learning from Google university, networking with others, or simply learning from experts you are able to hire, you need to familiarize yourself with each and every element. At the end of the day, it will be nearly impossible to find others that care as deeply as you do about your business, so your insight will always be critical, but only as valuable as your knowledge!
What is something you want all women to know and believe?I want every woman to know and believe that artistry and creativity is found in each of us. Whether you're illustrating, building a process, cooking, cultivating community; when you create space to practice creativity, honing in on what you enjoy, your heart will respond, and life will richen. It's a worthy pursuit.
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Erin Porter is another co-owner of MudLOVE! She currently is living in the Dominican Republic with her husband and kids, working with the women of Vida Plena!
Who is a woman in your life who inspires you? Why?This is a great question, I'm not sure I can mention just one. I've been blessed to have so many women in my life who inspire me. My family has been and is full of strong, gifted women who have been examples of humble servants for the good of those around them. I also have dear friends who have taught me in both word and action what it is to be a faithful follower of Jesus and lover of their families. All the women of Vida Plena have inspired me... But if you need to know ONE woman who currently inspires me it would be Maria Demopolous, a friend for 10 years, she continues to seek out the best in others (which makes you want to be around her), who looks for Jesus in all, who serves continually, who is faithful to her husband and family, faces problems head on with creativity and wisdom, she can carry a heavy load with a light heart and she's just fun to be around. I've found that even when my feet are slipping, I can call on her and feel grounded. If you know her you know.
What change would you like to see for women in the future?I would like to see women who are confident in who God made them but more importantly confident in who God is. Women who know their worth and what talents God has given to them and that they use those gifts. That they use their influence (everyone has influence) to draw the out the best in those who surround them. I would like to see more women who do not need or want the spot light (though they shine brightly) but who are always surrounded by people because they are inviting and approachable. I would like to see more women walk with integrity, generosity, wisdom and are be bold enough to be leaders but humble enough to to learn. That they unabashedly seek out and find love in Jesus not in other things.
What do your friends admire about you?I'm thankful that I've had friends who have let me know what they think of me through letters or phone calls over time. What I love best that they've said about me is that I have made them feel known and seen. They've said that it is obvious how much I love Jesus and my family (whew!). I've also been told that they admire my authenticity, thoughtfulness, generosity and adventurous spirit.
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Courtney France is a wife, mama, and the third (female) co-owner of MudLOVE!
Who is a woman artist who inspires you? Why?The women artists who inspire me are the ones that I meet and learn their story. I cannot pick just one. It's the woman making bracelets at Vida Plena who comes to work each day fighting to provide a better life for herself, her children, and her future generations. Its the woman at the art fair who works a full time job but creates and travels on the side because she is so passionate and in love with creating. It's the woman whose painting is hanging in my daughter's room and I can see her smile in my head every time I look at the picture. It's the woman who believes so much in what she does that she sacrifices financial "wealth" to create beautiful pieces, then shares the beauty that is spewing out of her creative mind with the world.
What change would you like to see for women in the future?True freedom of authenticity. To be allowed to feel comfortable truly embracing their femininity while being taken seriously as an equal in an artistic realm, business realm, parenting realm, and the list could go on... I dream for women to truly feel empowered to be who God created them to be without fear of judgement or comparison; to not have to worry about changing a thing about themselves to be valued and respected.
What advice would you give to a woman looking to start their own business?Follow your heart of course, but, in no particular order… Fill a need. Do your research and understand whether what you are doing has a place in the market or you are entering into something that is already oversaturated. Surround yourself with mentors. Find people older and wiser than you who you respect and then learn all you can from them. Understand that you will need to be the hardest working person around… for a long time. Choose something that you are truly passionate about. It will be more sustainable if you enjoy it. Find a friend, spouse, partner, mentor, or maybe just an inspirational figure who truly believes in you and supports your ideas. They will be your greatest source of encouragement and understanding. Don’t take yourself too seriously. Consider the cost. Enjoy the process!
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We're so thankful for and inspired by each of these women, and hope you have been too! A huge thanks to each of them for taking time to share their stories and hearts!
We'll be featuring more of the women of MudLOVE and Vida Plena all month long, go follow us on Instagram and Facebook to read more!
]]>Hey, MudLOVE friends! We have some big news to share with you... we have some amazing new co-workers! For the last four years, MudLOVE has been partnering with Vida Plena to improve the world around us in big ways, and this year we are making that partnership official.
]]>Hey, MudLOVE friends! We have some big news to share with you... we have some amazing new co-workers! For the last four years, MudLOVE has been partnering with Vida Plena to improve the world around us in big ways, and this year we are making that partnership official.
Since 2009 we’ve built MudLOVE on this foundation: our business is a tool to disrupt patterns of brokenness and put love into action. Today, we are excited to welcome the incredible team at Vida Plena to the MudLOVE fold! This investment represents the next step in achieving our vision and mission.
Vida Plena exists to see women in the Dominican Republic flourish. They accomplish this by providing artisan trade training programs, adult literacy classes, and full-time employment in a safe and secure environment.
We began partnering with Vida Plena in 2018 to create our very first woven product. In the years since we have expanded our production partnership to include high quality ceramic and resin products, in addition to our woven bracelets. Thanks to this new step in our relationship, Vida Plena will continue investing in the lives of their team to break the cycles of poverty and hopelessness in their community.
There is an old proverb that says, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” By joining MudLOVE and Vida Plena, we look forward to making a difference in Indiana, the Dominican Republic, and through clean water projects in the Central African Republic.
We cannot wait to see how this partnership impacts the world around us, and hope you are just as excited as we are! If you'd like to see what we're up to, go connect with us on social media @mudlove and @vidaplenadr!
Thank you for your continued support of MudLOVE and Vida Plena!
]]>I’ve been ditching the New Year’s Resolutions and claiming a word of the year since 2015. For me - someone with a lot of goals, ambitions and aspirations - a few small resolutions never felt quite right. But a word - now THAT is something I can get behind.
To me, one of the coolest things about picking a word of the year is how you can easily look back and see how that word truly did shape the year as it progressed. I’ve found that during the first 6 months of the year, I think more about the word but I’m not fully living it. And then in the final 6 months, I think a lot less about the word and what it means but end up living it much more fully.
I like to pick a word that can be applied to many aspects of my life! A word that can morph and grow as the year progresses. A word that doesn’t limit me to a single accomplishment.
To give you an idea of what I mean… Depth was my 2018 word of the year. At the time, I wanted to bring my depth and value to my blog, ModlyChic, and social media accounts. But I also wanted to have my depth in my relationships and in the books that I read. I wanted to have more depth in my thoughts and decisions.
Last year, my word was Steadfast! It was meant to inspire me to be persevering in the many things I wanted to accomplish that year. Steadfast in building my new social media consulting business, Rosebud Social. Steadfast in my workouts and healthy choices. Steadfast in my relationships. Steadfast in the things I told myself I would do.
This year, unlike most years, my word of the year came to me instantly. Usually I spend a fair amount of time trying to find the perfect word - debating between several, looking up definitions and combing through a thesaurus. But not 2022! I heard the word a couple weeks before the New Year and knew that would be my word.
This year I want to be defined by one word: Expansive!
By definition, according to Merriam-Webster, expansive means having a capacity or tendency to open up; characterised by richness, abundance or magnificence.
Sounds pretty awesome, right?!
I want my businesses to be expansive - bringing on new clients for the coaching and strategies business, and bringing in more partnerships for the influencer work. I don’t want to think and act in small narrow parameters but think bigger, better, bolder.
I want my relationships to be expansive - giving me a chance to love deeper those who are already in my life and to love to those strangers that will come my way this year.
I want my intelligence to be expansive - finding new ways to learn and grow whether that’s through books, podcasts, videos, or conversations. There are so many things I want to learn more about - health, fitness, the mind, business, etc..
I want my life to be expansive - saying yes to new opportunities and things that seem daunting. Embracing new experiences, new paths, new ideas.
So, here’s to an expansive 2022! I hope whatever word you picked for the year is one that truly helps craft your best year yet!
You can connect with Katie on social here and visit her blog here!
Create your Word of the Year and save up to 25% off custom stamped products! Start HERE.
Good-bye 2021, you annoying pest. You didn’t defeat me, because here I am, still trucking along. There’s a lot to be thankful for even as the C-19 PTSD starts to reveal itself with that little twitch in my eye when I hear the word. Thankfully my little kids just call it Corona, which is a nice change of pace as it’s nothing to smile about. A little jaded and tired, I still remain eager and hopeful for a New Year. A fresh start each year is quite a gift!
With the fresh start I wanted to share my own Word of the year with you, a loyal fan and follower of the MudLOVE journey. The words being cranked out at MudLOVE can jumble together. They go from the important reminder of “strength” to “how many strength bracelets do we need to inventory?” In my mind it’s easy for “hope” to go from possibly the most important thing I can possess through a hard time to “one of our top selling words”. The business/purpose jumble needs a little combing, or maybe just cut out.
I chose “purpose” as my word of the year.
Purpose holds a high value in my life. I want purpose to the point that it can be torture in my own head, where I’m often displeased with the mundane, the ordinary, the menial tasks. I have to hit the auto-pilot button and start off, avoiding the annoying voice saying this is not a big impact or transformative. My thoughts around purpose have been shifting and need to shift more. I’ve had to evaluate the purpose of playing a game with my 7 year old versus performing the all too important life-changing work at MudLOVE. The purpose to do good IS good, but it can be a slippery slope. Maybe you have similar feelings in your own profession.
Given that word of the year project is a self-centered improvement concept, I thought it would help to put purpose through the lens of a renewed SELF to give myself a strategy. It’s an ugly word, really. SELF. Try to say it without spitting on your neighbor. This word could use some help. The ugly word holds true to what it can become, a gremlin trash monster that lives in the dumpsters, feeding on waste and excess. It’s not too far off from reality in an honest inspection of my SELF.
As if it’s not already hard enough, we have all these other SELFS walking around on this big spinning ball in an infinite thing cleverly named space. This is fine (sarcasm). However, there might be some hope for me and my stinky SELF. I think with a little adjustment here and some tightening there, I think SELF could be something I can clean off and nurture back to health after some recent whiplash of life.
Breaking down this concept of self came with little effort to be honest. Probably because it’s often so prominent and easily flawed. My SELF is all I have to filter through the world happening around with all the other humans being. It’s my default setting, but I’d like to rewrite the script in a easy to remember way. Acronym time!
S is for Sacrifice
The first step is probably the hardest, as it involves countering my most natural trait of selfishness. For purpose to work, S needs to be rewritten from selfishness to Sacrifice. I can do something I don’t feel like doing that benefits someone else. It’s in my ability, but I so often don’t. I have to ignore the voice that tries to sell comfort and pleasure as the path to happiness. It’s a trap!
E is for Engage
One thing about being a business owner and a father is that there is a forced engagement. Since I have a desire to do these things well, the opportunity presents engagement daily. However, even “in my face” things I can be dis-engaged with. What about the not in my face things? Out of sight out of mind is the default setting there. I need to be engaged and stay engaged in my life to the big and small things. Plus, sacrifice can’t happen without engagement.
L is for Love
“Love is too big and too lofty to try to achieve” is what my SELF is shouting often. However, as a process guy I needed a better explanation, and came up with thinking that love at it’s basic root is about thoughtfulness followed by action. I’ve found that having no margin in my life kills my ability to love well. So love for me can start with better balance in life, working fast and furious when given the opportunity, and leaving it at the door when I stop. I’ll never master this, but it gives me something to work toward.
F is for Freedom
This one is really about the results of the first 3 letters. I think when I connect my purpose to the first 3, and start to make progress, freedom starts to happen. I’ve felt glimmers of this in the past, and still do today, but I want more. Those moments of stars aligning and hitting the heart just right are definitely worth the effort. It’s freedom from the worldly SELF, and an awakening of the new guy, the gremlin trash monster just got a shower and some mouth wash.
The dumpster will always be an inevitable visit, but getting out (again) is the victory. Purpose driven by my new SELF is the goal. The journey is the reward.
What's your Word of the Year? Create your own stamped bracelet for 25% off HERE.
Did you know? Making pottery is one of the oldest crafts in the world. The oldest known ceramics in the Americas date back to almost 10,000 years ago. Imagine something you make today surviving for millennia, then studied and displayed in museums around the world!
The processes we use at MudLOVE to create your mug aren't much different than they were thousands of years ago. The original potters used mud, water, and fire to create their pots too. Those potter's names are lost to history. But we refuse to let our potter's names disappear. Let's get to know the team making your future artifact!
This is Aubrey, Laura, Nathan, and Ben. We asked them this question:
Laura says: If you found a laurel branch maker's mark, that laurel branch represents my name. Laura means "crowned with laurels." Back in the day, victors would be crowned or anointed with a laurel branch. I'm also overly perfectionistic making these mugs, but I delight in the simple, lovely things of life.
Aubrey says: If you found my maker's mark you'd see it is a sun. My mark is based on a verse in the Bible that talks about the radiance of God. I would want people to know that I love Jesus and I tried to shine God. I know this is super cheesy. So I take it all back because I don't want to be known for being cheesy!
Nathan says: My maker's mark is a spiral with an element exiting the spiral. It represents how life can spin out of control and stay in that cycle. The arrow represents the fact that there is a way to exit that spiral. My mark also has an element of centering: centering yourself on God or the spirit. I'd like people to know that I'm more than just enthusiastic. Everyone is more than just their outward actions or their initial impression.
Ben doesn't have a maker's mark because he's not throwing for us... yet! But as an integral part of the glazing process, here's what he'd like future generations to know: I want to glorify God through the gifts he's give me. I take time to use them so others will enjoy them for generations to come. At the end of the day it's about the craftsmanship that went into each pottery piece. It's well thought out and designed with purpose for people to enjoy!
Next time you pick up your MudLOVE mug, look for the maker's mark underneath the handle and discover who spent days making your mug! Who knows, your mug could be a relic in a thousand years! And if you happen to break your mug, bury it like a time capsule for future generations to find.
Shop MudLOVE mugs HERE.
]]>Several weeks ago Whitney was checking out while shopping and noticed a "never give up" bracelet on the cashier's wrist. Like tattoos, we always have to ask what someone's bracelet means. As Tabitha shared, a beautiful story unfolded of family, love, and suffering. Tabitha connected us to her aunt Jodi to hear the full story.
]]>Several weeks ago Whitney was checking out while shopping and noticed a "never give up" bracelet on the cashier's wrist. Like tattoos, we always have to ask what someone's bracelet means. As Tabitha shared, a beautiful story unfolded of family, love, and suffering. Tabitha connected us to her aunt Jodi to hear the full story.
We have been coming to Winona Lake since the kids were little to walk around the shops, paint pottery and have ice cream. Tucked away behind Pottery Bayou was a cute little store the girls would like to frequently stop by named Belove. I didn’t know then that the frequent visits would lead us some years later to a piece of jewelry we all hold so close to our hearts.
Jodi & her kids Connor, Trent, and Courtney
My dad was a great man. He was a contractor. He was very hard working and he was willing to help anyone who needed it. He loved his garden. He loved his family and grandkids and all of his friends. I, of course, think I was his favorite! I spent many mornings while driving my kids to school talking to him about what’s going on in the world today. My dad was my rock.
Jack Foster
In May 2016 dad started not feeling well, we went to a doctor appointment, we were sent in June to another specialist. Dad was put on a special diet (my niece did awesome at preparing him home cooked meals), blood work, X-rays. Couldn’t figure out what was wrong. I left the end of June for an out of town funeral and when I came home the beginning of July he could barely walk. I took him to Fort Wayne to the ER. They did a CT and gave him some fluid. He walked out just like normal. A couple days later for a follow up with the family doctor he was weak and barely getting around. They order a CT with contrast. The next morning I got the call.. it was a brain tumor. I was in absolute disbelief. So we waited for an appointment with the oncologist and then with the neurosurgeon. Well in order to find out what kind of cancer we had to do a biopsy. My dad was always healthy. So in we went - he did well. This was in August. Unfortunately the noise in the ICU made him very agitated, so we brought him home, which lead to other problems. Due to the location of the tumor (near his thalamus) it was inoperable. They gave him 18 months. We would take it. Everyday would be a blessing.
The Foster family
Once he was able we started radiation and he seemed to be doing well, however he wasn’t walking and getting around like he should. We kept moving forward hoping for the best, hoping for a miracle. I wasn’t ready to lose my dad. We continued treatments and my sister and I would take turns staying up with him. Once he knew he had the tumor he wouldn’t lay down. He spent the later part of August and early September at my home at night and during the day I would take him home to be with my mom. My dad spent as much of June, July and August as he possibly could on his lawn mower. He loved mowing and taking care of his lawn. We would walk within a safe distance to make sure he was ok. Grandkids and his kids all took turns. He never once complained of anything. So for that we are so thankful!
In September we took him in to the oncologist and they ordered an ultrasound. He has a blood clot in his leg. At that point he was admitted. His condition deteriorated quickly. On Tuesday, September 20th my dad said to me “Jo, no better - let’s go home” so we made the arrangements to get him home Wednesday. He passed away Thursday evening September 22nd, 2016 surrounded by his family. We never gave up. He was buried with his bracelet.
When he started not feeling well, I spoke to a family friend that was a doctor and he told me he thought my dad had just given up. I said no way, my dad is strong. There is no way he would ever give up on his family! When I found that bracelet I just knew it was meant for us!
When I found out my dad had something serious going on, I went to MudLOVE and bought several members of my family bracelets that said “never give up’ with their favorite color bands. Each is different. I wanted to make sure my dad knew we we all here for him and that we would never give up!
Todd (Jack's grandson) says, "Yes. The tree symbolizes strength, and the things in the roots, including my grandpa's last name name, Foster, are what gives me strength everyday to push forward. Adding it permanently is a reminder to “never give up”. The rest of us wear our bracelet everyday."
Todd and his grandmother LouAnn
Todd's tattoo
This week is the 5 year anniversary of Jack Foster's passing after complications from High-Grade B-cell Lymphoma. We are so thankful to his family for allowing us to visit his family home, take some photos, and share his legacy with you.
Special thanks to Tabitha for connecting us, and to Jodi who relived those 4 months in order to write their story.
Have a story to share with us? Do it HERE.
L-R: Kathy, LouAnn, Jodi, Brent
L-R: Todd, Kathy, Tabitha
Todd named his business after his grandfather
Gold Together is the American Cancer Society’s childhood cancer initiative that empowers individuals to help raise funds to directly support research, education, advocacy, and services, as well as promote cancer prevention efforts that could reduce children’s risk for cancer later in life. Each product in this MudLOVE campaign is inspired by three brave childhood cancer fighters.
"I’m Elizabeth Weidner, founder of Crowns Fight Cancer, and I’m just a girl changing the world one rhinestone at a time! I was diagnosed with Stage IV High Risk Neuroblastoma shortly after my 12th birthday in 2016. As the 2017 Jr. Miss Effingham County Fair Queen, I recognized the visibility a crown has to create a greater impact by grabbing the attention of the general public, our elected leaders, and other influential individuals. I use my voice and my own journey to advocate, influence, and fight for change for childhood cancer warriors, utilizing the power of media (social, print, television, radio) to reach people all over the world.
There have been countless times where I have set goals, but then my self-doubt started to creep in, making me think I would never be able to accomplish it because it’s too difficult to achieve. I like this mantra because it is saying to just stop overthinking and second guessing yourself and just get going on your goals. Thinking about how hard or impossible it is won’t make it any easier. Accomplishing is the only way to go, which includes working hard, not giving up when the going gets tough, and believing in yourself. The very word ‘impossible,’ after all, says ‘I’m possible!'"
"Grace had a creative soul with a sweet spirit and most of all she loved to help others. Despite her everyday challenges with cancer, she graduated Summa Cum Laude at her high school. We hope that her diligent work effort, despite her diagnosis will provide the encouragement and hope that you or a friend may need." – Fran Fulcher, Grace’s mother
“I was diagnosed on January 31 of 2017 with T-Cell ALL Leukemia and throughout the rough 2 and 1/2 year battle the phrase “Fear Not” can sum up most of it. When I was scared and lonely I had nothing to fear. Due to the amazing doctors and nurses, my great family and friends, finally my bond with God that helped lead my way through leukemia. “Fear Not” means that I always have my family, friends and faith to guide my way through the roughest times.“
Childhood Cancer is the leading disease-related cause of death for children and adolescents ages 1 to 19, and 1 in 266 children and adolescents will be diagnosed with cancer before the age of 20. At the American cancer society we are committed to finding ways to partner and bring more awareness and research to families facing childhood cancer.
Learn more about what we’re doing to save lives and prevent suffering at every age and every stage at cancer.org/GoldTogether.
Support the American Cancer Society's fundraiser at: mudlove.com/gold-together
]]>DO keep it simple. If you're new to decking out your wrists, start simple. A plain Viona in your favorite color is a great way to get used to the feeling of something on your wrist. After a few weeks, try adding a second Viona or a Doodle. You'll be amazed at how quickly you get used to something new!
]]>Did you know? Just 10% of our community is made of men. So most of our content is geared toward the she/hers in our community. But what about the 10%, the he/hims of MudLOVE? If you're new to MudLOVE but aren't sure where to start building your arm party, you've come to the professionals!
Below is our short guide to wearing bracelets for dudes:
If you're new to decking out your wrists, start simple. A simple Viona in your favorite color is a great way to get used to the feeling of something on your wrist. After a few weeks, try adding a second Viona or a Doodle. You'll be amazed at how quickly you get used to something new!
Ready to level up? It's time to think about what you value in your life. Or perhaps a goal you'd like to achieve. Chances are you're already working toward it. Wearing a stamped Original bracelet on its own (or with a Viona) is a great way to keep your eyes on the prize.
If you already wear a watch, this is an easy way to dip your toes into stacking. Add a couple small Vionas to a chunky watch. Or add a couple more bracelets for your signature look. Mix and match different bracelet materials like metal or wood to add an additional layer of meaning. This is your chance to play around and find what works for you!
Truly, find what's best for you! If it's uncomfortable, take it off and try a different bracelet or a different arm. Borrow a friend's bracelet for a week. As momma always said, you'll never know unless you try!
Every stack has a story; what's yours? Share your stack with us on Instagram by tagging us @mudlove or by sharing your story HERE.
]]>I first got connected with MudLOVE when my oldest came home from his Operation Barnabas Tour, through CE National. He was so excited to share them with his siblings. The bracelets are a fun reminder of a memorable time in their lives.
I recently discovered the Wayfinder team. I thought it was a neat way to share the physical beauty of MudLOVE items, along with the community goodness that each item contributes to.
I was 10 months into my first vocational ministry role. When COVID hit, I was just getting to know people comfortably and learning the name of each room of the church! I am grateful for the unbalance that COVID caused in my life. It made me realize many things about God, myself and ministry. The main thing that I learned about God is that He has the ultimate control over our lives and our world. There is nothing that comes as a surprise to Him. In my self doubt and fear, His word became a deeper balm for my soul.
As the Director of Women's Ministry, I really work on creating opportunities for women to grow in their knowledge of Christ and to build relationships with one another. This was extremely hard during COVID! We had Zoom studies, but I felt like something more was needed, something that would bring some encouragement, especially for those who were very isolated. Based on the popular subscription box models, I decided to create our own.
I was blessed with a team of wonderful women who work on curating these little boxes of fun and hope in Christ. Our ladies jumped at the opportunity to share these with their unchurched neighbors, their isolated friends, and used them themselves. These little boxes even made their way as far as Ohio where another church wanted to see if they could reproduce the idea.
Our summer box is called "Refreshed by Grace". When curating these boxes we look at three things: 1. How does this make me grow upward in my knowledge of God? 2. How does this make me grow outward in my relationship with others? and 3. How does this make me grow inwardly? MudLOVE was a perfect fit! As we follow the theme of refreshment, there is no better physical refreshment than a glass of cool water, yet how many do not have that privilege. We felt this was a unique opportunity to be able to provide a dual refreshment, one that blesses the giver and the receiver. The Lovely bracelet is so dainty and a perfect reminder that His grace is enough to meet all our needs and cover our brokenness.
We include one gathering activity opportunity with each box, with a "safer at home" alternative. This month we will be hosting a prayer walk throughout the community where our church is located. We are in a town that is a local attraction, so we will be praying over the park, the pier and the neighborhood, the local elementary school, and our church building.
We have seen many ladies connect through the boxes. One of my favorite things is how they share them with unchurched coworkers and friends. We had one benefactor bless 30 women from our Compassion Partners (these ladies serve at our local pregnancy clinic, and Precious Life Shelter (provides a safe place for pregnant women with no place to live). It is a joy seeing women invest in the lives of other women. We have also seen many who don't normally volunteer, excited to be a part of the vision of these boxes.
Thanks for sharing your story, Josie! It's incredible to see how you found a creative solution to a big problem. Plus, your heart for the women in your church is beautiful.
Have you changed someone's life with a MudLOVE bracelet? Share your story HERE or look for the perfect gift for someone HERE.
Featured in this story: Grace Lovely Bracelet.
]]>Having Luke, Whitney, and Rusty from MudLOVE and BelKai here in February was amazing! There was a ton of training followed by a mountain of questions. As professional entrepreneurs and artisans, Luke and Whitney never hesitated in their responses knowing exactly what to say drawing from their extensive personal experience with their clay and resin designs.
Then they left us.
]]>Having Luke, Whitney, and Rusty from MudLOVE and BelKai here in February was amazing! There was a ton of training followed by a mountain of questions. As professional entrepreneurs and artisans, Luke and Whitney never hesitated in their responses knowing exactly what to say drawing from their extensive personal experience with their clay and resin designs.
Then they left us.
The next day I looked at the women we had just trained to carefully handcraft these beautiful pieces and was simultaneously excited to see them thrive with their newly acquired skills and also terrified we wouldn’t be able to pull it off without the depth of knowledge and training experience that Luke and Whitney brought to the table.
Our 2 months of work after the training sessions have not always been pretty, easy, and smooth, BUT we are learning and improving together as a team. There’s been something like a battle-hardening among us, a strengthening our friendships, and a building of confidence in what we can do. Most of the women learning and working with us in the Vida Plena program have not had the opportunity to learn how to persist, to struggle or fall down and get back up again. This is such an important process that most of us were taught by our parents and take for granted.
I want to say we’re over the hump. We’re creating training documents in English, Spanish, and Haitian creole loaded with pictures. We’re implementing systems to ensure a high-quality product, and have identified women who have talent in a particular process. It feels like we’re approaching a routine in which every woman can confidently come to work knowing what she’s going to do, and that she’s actually really good at it.
It’s been fun watching them develop pride and ownership as artisans. Every now and then we show them an Instagram or Facebook post, or the new MudLOVE or BelKai website where their eyes feast on the elegant presentations of their work. They stare in disbelief knowing these exact pieces passed through their hands, and someone from AMERICA will be buying it! If you’re an artisan you know that joy and satisfaction.
The women walk the 2 miles to work together as a family. They’re usually holding hands or fixing one another’s hair on the way from Monte Verde. After their daily song and a prayer, work begins. We have MudLOVE and BelKai to thank for the sounds and sights here. We hear the strumming of fingers picking cotton threads as they weave the Vionas, the squeak of the clay stamping jigs, and the electrical relay clicking in the kiln. We see all the colors of the rainbow in liquid form flowing carefully into rings, charms, necklaces, and earrings.
On behalf of the whole team here and their families, we want to extend our gratitude to all of you purchasing the unique and beautiful pieces designed and made by MudLOVE and BelKai resting assured they are true to their mission to serve others in LOVE.
Huge thanks to Josh for sharing this update from the Vida Plena team! Your purchases of bracelets and Bel Kai jewelry provides direct work for this amazing team!
]]>Facebook asks, “What’s on your mind?”. Always too much, likely more than you would want to know.
A 280 character limit? Twitter is lost on me.
The friendly world of Instagram has been far more accommodating as I chronicle and story my life, sometimes succinctly, often not.
And this? A charge to write about Women's History Month? Gladly. I have some words.
I recently was reflecting on the many jobs I've held, having worked since I was around the age of fourteen. And wow, what a variety. I began with years of retail and office administration, with a few (much shorter) stints as a server. After graduating college, getting my feet wet with a career in human resources and some time spent moving up within the four walls of a bank. First as a teller, then loan officer, and finally a financial planner assistant.
Ultimately, my last position before becoming an entrepreneur & business owner was my career as the Director of Operations for a recruiting & event planning agency.
And would you believe, of the 15 jobs that I can quickly recall, my boss has always been a woman? I never realized it until my recent reflection. Goodness, I'm the luckiest!
At least 15 women were a part of my life; some of them wives, some mothers, some career-driven, some not so much, but all of them living & breathing examples of leaders in my life.
And last but not least, my mother. How can I possibly celebrate Women without mentioning her? Without detailing her entire life story, she didn't have a multitude of people to aspire to as she grew up. She married and, out of necessity, un-enrolled from college to work full-time. Full-time didn't happen because, surprise, she was pregnant. That was 46 years ago.
Self-taught since then, she went on to work in administrative and accounting positions, keeping part-time hours to stay available to her family. She made it happen! Exactly what she needed & wanted until this very day. (Hi Mom! She is lovingly and faithfully serving as the MudLOVE Staff Accountant for the past 6 years, this week!!)
I paid attention. I learned the lesson. I could do it.
Her example became a dream of mine - to make it all work together. When I became pregnant with my first son, I had the desire to contribute financially, while pursuing my passions with the flexibility to be at home with my children. And if (God-willing), my business sustained for the years my kids were little and at home, I would eventually be able to work full-time when they were in school.
This is now my reality. What a gift. I'm grateful for the opportunity that might not have been mine 50 years ago, 100 years ago.
For me, Women's History Month is a time to celebrate women. Women who have led, those that have had the courage to change the course of their life. Women with enough passion to make things happen, enough strength to get shit done, celebrating the ones that jump into the unknown, pushing against their comfort zones. Women that stand up for each other, especially when it counts.
We are indebted to the women that have worked so hard to pave the road, making it a little less bumpy for those that follow. While there are still some cracks that need to be repaired, potholes filled, we are no doubt living in a world that is paying attention to women, with renewed perception and for that, I'm thankful.
]]>This saying is an African proverb, and it's our inspiration for our online fundraising platform. We're modeling this platform on a village. It's a community of people that care deeply for each other and their needs. We're calling it The Giving Village.
Who's part of your village? Typically family and close friends are the first people we call when something unexpected rears its head. Their support and love, both practically and intangibly, carry us through those hard times.
What if your village created a wider circle? That's why we created The Giving Village. It's a place to say "We need help!" and receive tangible support. Sell meaningful products that unite your team and receive 50% of the sale of each product. In addition, 100% of donations go directly to you.
We're so excited to come along side you and the current Giving Village fundraisers to support you in the best way we know how: with love.
Learn more about The Giving Village and apply HERE.
Check out the current fundraisers and shop unique products HERE.
]]>Fast forward to 2020. The community of Monte Verde, near the resort town of Punta Cana, depends almost exclusively on tourists to run the economy. As the pandemic locked up the country, unemployment soared. In fact, unemployment is still above 50% in many areas. Thanks to your purchases in 2020 we were able to help provide steady work for the women at Vida Plena. And it gave us an idea.
Luke shows an extruding die to the clay team.
If the women at Vida Plena could weave Vionas, what else could they do? Luke spent months brainstorming new clay products and teaching himself 3D printing. Whitney refined the resin pouring process for her own business, Bel Kai. Then we set up three training days, purchased tickets, and packed our bags.
The challenge was exciting: Train 9 women to create 6 clay products and 4 jewelry styles, along with the countless techniques to bring them to life. In three days!
Whitney demonstrates chain assembly to Darline.
So, what's possible in 3 days? Everything! This group surpassed every expectation we had. At the end of three days they were confident mixing colored resin, stamping beads, and glazing bisque clay.
Josh split the ladies into two teams. One would focus on clay production. The other on jewelry production for Bel Kai. At the end of three days there were rising stars on both teams. Mirtha was fantastic at glazing. Damaris was becoming skilled at pouring resin. See the rest of the team at work here below.
Alicia and Damaris learn how to work jump rings.
Mabelle, Feline, and Mirtha work hard to extrude clay!
Inspecting a stamped bracelet
Cleaning the edge of a new bracelet style!
Martin pours resin into necklaces pieces.
Whitney demonstrates using a lighter to pop resin bubbles.
The team with their personalized MudLOVE tumblers!
Whitney and Luke, a powerhouse.
Lots of learning going on!
Josh helped us translate our training into Spanish.
By the last day the mood was less serious; we were having fun!
It was fun to watch the teams try out other skills!
Huge shout out to Josh and the rest of the Vida Plena team for hosting us! We'll be back!
It was an honor to work side-by-side with this group of amazing women. Their innovation and and desire to take advantage of every opportunity makes us better. We're so excited to show y'all the products we're working on. You're going to love them! Meanwhile, you can support these ladies directly by purchasing a Viona HERE.
Learn more about Vida Plena by going to their website HERE.
]]>We are so excited to collaborate with our friend Mel to bring you a meaningful new bracelet! Mel has been a friend of MudLOVE for years, and was even part of our first Wayfinder cohort! She hand-lettered our Human Together bracelet, perfect for celebrating Black History Month. Let's get to know Mel a little more!
]]>Mel has been a friend of MudLOVE for years, and was even part of our first Wayfinder cohort! She hand-lettered our Human Together bracelet, perfect for celebrating Black History Month. Let's get to know Mel a little more!
What a great question. Well, for starters, I'm a born + raised Hoosier through and through and am grateful to call the Midwest my home. I have the honor of working alongside some amazing people as the Creative Arts Director at my church, New Life Christian Church & World Outreach. I'm a firm believer in good food + great company; you truly can never go wrong with that combination. At the heart of it, solid connections with other human beings warms my heart, and there's nothing better than experiencing just that while eating something delicious. In my free time you can find me watching Youtube videos/Kdramas (iykyk), listening to music, cooking food, or sipping on a yummy chai tea latte.
Honestly I got into hand-lettering by accident. I never thought I would want to do that sort of thing, but after years of doodling in my school notebooks I thought "I could probably do a different style other than bubble letters" (we all love some good bubble letters, right?). From there I started watching tutorials to practice + hone in on my craft, and now voilà! Just like that something that used to help pass time during precalculus in school became something I now enjoy doing for freelance projects.
To me, Black History Month is a special time for not only Black people, but all people to celebrate the culture and history of an amazing group of people! And when I say that, I'm not saying that Black History is superior to any other history, but that Black History is American History when you really think about it. It's something worth acknowledging, educating yourself about, and celebrating!
This year I'm celebrating Black History Month by doing a few things. First, I'm reading books all written by Black authors: More Than Enough by Elaine Welteroth, Hair Love by Matthew A. Cherry, Little Legends Exceptional Men In Black History by Vashti Harrison, and Different by Chris Singleton. Second, I'm cooking up different types of soul food to eat and enjoy. (Very much excited about this one) And third, I am discovering new Black musical artists (if you're reading this and have some favorites send them my way!) I am hoping to do some other things as well, but these are the ones that I would love to hit!
Y'all can find me on Instagram on two different accounts: @agirlcalledmel and/or @modandglory.
Thank you so much for sharing with us, Mel! Hop over and check out our new Human Together bracelet. It's a great reminder to choose love for our fellow humans every day.
Photos provided by Melanie.
]]>
Back in 2017, I adopted the word “Discipline” and carried it through into 2018, because I felt like I still had more to meditate on with that word. In 2019, I chose the word “Simplify” and in 2020, I moved onto “Purposeful.” After living through a once-in-a-century, global pandemic and other historic events, I found myself feeling a lack of purpose and clarity.
]]>Since early 2015, I have been a “planner.”
Not a wedding planner, not an event planner (though I have worn this hat before), and certainly not a city planner. But a person who chooses to engage in the mindful practice of setting up, arranging—and sometimes even decorating with stickers and washi tape—a schedule in an agenda or planner for the purpose of accountability, self-care, and time management. It was only after joining the online community of like-minded folks who also share this hobby and habit that I learned about the custom of choosing a word of the year.
Back in 2017, I adopted the word “Discipline” and carried it through into 2018, because I felt like I still had more to meditate on with that word. In 2019, I chose the word “Simplify” and in 2020, I moved onto “Purposeful.”
After living through a once-in-a-century, global pandemic and other historic events, I found myself feeling a lack of purpose and clarity. When you operate in survival mode for months on end, it can strip away so much of your nuance, color, and creativity. In the final months of 2020, I felt a deep sadness. As I looked ahead at the next five years of my life, it appeared to be one large, intimidating blur. I didn’t like this feeling, so through self-reflection and journaling, I came to my word for 2021: vision.
Vision is defined by the Cambridge English Dictionary as:
Synonyms for vision include “creativity” and “imagination”—two incredibly important virtues I felt myself in short supply of at the end of the year. In choosing “vision” as my word of the year, I vow to take mindful steps each day to hold myself accountable in crafting the great vision I am now starting to see for my life.
If you’ve never selected a word of the year before, I highly encourage you to spend some time journaling and doing reflection on what worked and what didn’t in the year before. Consider what things left you feeling whole, empowered, impassioned, or well. Once you get a sense of what invigorates you or what you feel strongly about changing or improving in your life, hop online and use the dictionary and thesaurus tools available to see what sorts of words find their way to you.
Lastly, choosing a word of the year should be a stress-free process. Do your best not to overthink it and follow your intuition. Once you select your word, try to incorporate it into your daily life. Write it on a sticky note and put it somewhere you’ll see it every day. If you use an agenda or planner, write it down at the start of every month. Set it as your wallpaper on your computer or smartphone. Or purchase an item from MudLOVE with your word of the year as a daily reminder.
Most importantly, be committed to living each day with intention.
Bring your Word of the Year to life on a bracelet, mug or tumbler. Shop the full collection HERE.
More about Cynthia: Originally a transplant from the North, Cynthia Velasco has lived in Central Florida for nearly 15 years and has been fortunate to call the City Beautiful her home for the last six years. She currently resides in East Orlando with her husband and son. You can usually find her at the library, her favorite stationery store in Winter Garden, or at one of downtown Orlando's many cozy coffee shops.
]]>One week into 2021. Without a doubt, our anticipated and planned-for calendar days in 2020 were gratuitously stolen and replaced with far too many uncertainties, injustices, unrest + casualties than any of us would have preferred. No one was left untouched by the sorrow of our shared year. The difficulties took a toll.
]]>Without a doubt, our anticipated and planned-for calendar days in 2020 were gratuitously stolen and replaced with far too many uncertainties, injustices, unrest + casualties than any of us would have preferred. No one was left untouched by the sorrow of our shared year. The difficulties took a toll.
Personally speaking, there were (and continue to be) hardships within our family and our small business. MudLOVE, like so many others, was not left unscathed. We are all a little banged up and bruised from the year.
At the start of 2020, we ventured out as a husband & wife team, leading at MudLOVE in a capacity that we had never before in the past 11 years. With renewed hustle & grit and the scrappy entrepreneur spirit we have had in our tool belt since becoming founders, we set out to inspire our team.
And then. Sales, website traffic and community interaction came to a screeching halt. In one day. After the State of Indiana issued a quarantine, most of our team of 34 people were furloughed. Our payroll shifted overnight to a team made up of the two of us, and our creative marketing department of two others working from home (all being paid a new rate of minimum wage).
Our four active boys (we don’t know what quiet spirit, reserved-kinda children are like) were now home from school and we joined our community in being involuntarily led into homeschooling, online-learning. Rest assured, from that point forward, our boys learned more about running a business during those crazed days than math. We share one of the many lessons in gratitude from the year alongside all parents: teachers are angels among us.
It wasn't quite the hustle and grit we had in mind for our year when we turned our boys’ playroom into a makeshift shipping department. I suppose it makes some sense; at times it feels as though we're playing dress-up as business owners.
Quite honestly, it didn't feel too different from the challenges we typically face as accidental business owners (slash) untrained entrepreneurs. We already spend the majority of our days in the unknown as we strive to make our way and learn as we go. We're experienced pivot-ers. (We tried to save the world from one more blog post with the word pivot, the word every.single.business.owner has chosen to describe the ways in which we moved & made decisions when our world turned upside down. But at last, we could not.)
We all found ourselves living in a world that's very much divided, experiencing unfathomable pain and uncertain circumstances. Yet in the midst of it, we paid attention, and if we took the time, we were all the recipients of a gift. The gift of gratitude. Gratitude for the many silver linings and moments of grace that swirled around us.
The MudLOVE Silver Lining? We were able to do what we do best. Simply put, MudLOVE uses ceramic products to love others because we believe love changes the world. For 11 years, our community has used our products to encourage others through difficult days, to inspire others to take action and to love others with a tangible gift when there are "just no words". It was such a time as this.
We encouraged loving one another and created a unique product with dear friends, offering our community give-back care packs to send to friends & family.
We took action by sending 1,018 “hope” bracelets to front-liners in the fight against COVID. Read the Delp's story HERE.
We stood for equality with the Black community and made the much-requested “Black Lives Matter” and “=” bracelets available for all, at our lowest price possible. Read more HERE.
We seized the opportunity of time to reflect & write a company manifesto, clearly stating our purpose and beliefs. Read our manifesto HERE.
We re-organized roles and systems within our company, making it possible for our friends at Vida Plena (women that have found dignified work in the Dominican Republic) to remain employed weaving Viona bracelets.
We gave 91,164 weeks of clean water to those in need, in the Central African Republic, through our partner Water for Good.
Most of our team made their way back to our studio after our mandatory quarantine ended. We all stayed healthy and our doors remain open. We are thankful and humbled to have played a small part in encouraging others throughout a difficult year, through our handmade products.
Standing on the horizon of a new year, we have much to look forward to. New products are currently in development, plans for new partnerships are underway, fundraising campaigns are getting a facelift, just to name a few.
Since our foundation, MudLOVE has run off the support of a beautiful, loving community. That’s you! We hear your stories of inspiration day in and day out and have hopes to share more of them with you in 2021. We are grateful for you and appreciate the continued passion for the products we handcraft with you in mind. Sending you all the love and prayers for health & safety in 2021.
w/ LOVE,
Luke & Whitney
]]>The pandemic's been hard on our wallets; gift-giving shouldn't be. We've compiled a list of some of our favorite products at all price points. And this Black Friday through Cyber Monday, you can enjoy free shipping on all your orders. The price you see is what you get!
If you've been around, you know that each of our products creates real change. Thanks to our partnership with Water for Good, every bracelet and every mug provide one week of clean water to someone in the Central African Republic. When you choose to #ShopSmall you're supporting our 15 employees and creating an impact around the world.
Where else are you shopping this holiday season? Drop the business name in the comments and let's share the love!
]]>Clay is one of the easiest and most versatile materials to create with. So when Laura Alvarado, Director at the Indiana Blind Children's Foundation contacted us about making braille bracelets to include in their Gala swag bags, we said yes! We sat down with Laura to hear more about her role in serving blind and visually impaired students in our home state of Indiana.
Laura Alvarado: I started working for the Indiana Blind Children's Foundation (IBCF) four years ago. At the time, I was ready to take on more of a leadership role and when I interviewed for my position of Exeuctive Director, I immediately knew that I wanted to be at the foundation and supporting the students at the Indiana School for the Blind and Visually Impaired (ISBVI). I was drawn to the position and the work as my career has been spent ensuring underserved youth have access to resources and programs that help them thrive and be successful. It has always been important to me that children of all backgrounds and abilities have equal access to a high quality education and programs that encourage kids to dream big.
LA: IBCF's mission is to invest in children with visual impairments so each child may thrive in school and daily life. IBCF is a philanthropic foundation that supports the unique work of the Indiana School for the Blind and Visually Impaired. Since its inception in 1993, the foundation has focused on raising financial support for academics at ISBVI. Over the course of time, the foundation extended its focus to impact all facets of the students' intellectual, social, and emotional lives.
LA: I get asked this question a lot. At the school and foundation, we believe that our students can do anything with some adaptations in place. In many ways the greatest challenge out there can be the negative or mis-informed perceptions of individuals with visual impairments. There have been so many steretypes played out in the media and unfortunately individuals with any type of disability have to work very hard at ensuring people see beyond the disability. This is why we make the efforts that we do at the foundation and share images and news stories that focus on our students abilities and strengths because there are so many.
LA: The Through the Looking Glass Gala started nine years ago after one of our Board members, Lindsey Jordan, who wasn't a Board member at the time, was inspired by a visit to ISBVI. She approached the foundation's Executive Director about putting on an event that could assist the foundation create awareness surrounding the students' needs and leverage dollars for those needs. She brought on friends and family to assist in putting on such a grand event and that first year I believe the event generated nearly $90,000. To date, this event has raised over $850,000 towards the IBCF mission and supported numerous programs at the school such as technology, arts and music programs, a 3D Print Lab and more.
LA: My family and I actually took a weekend trip to the Village at Winona Lake for my birthday a few years back. We had a wonderful time exploring the village while we were there and stumbled upon MudLOVE products at one of the gift shops. I was immediately drawn to your mission or belief that every person has the ability to change the world. Using clay, you not only create products that you can wear or use. but you turn those sales into investments into communities where there is hardship. My background is in the visual arts and for many years I oversaw community arts programs in numerous low income areas of Indianapolis. I love how the arts inspire confidence and thoughtfulness of the world around you. I believe that the arts are not only a powerful tool for expressing oneself, but can inspire positive social change in others. The arts have this positive chain reaction effect and you all at MudLOVE mirror that effect beautifully through your mission and efforts.
LA: I immediately thought of MudLOVE for Gala this year because when I first found your products I noticed the use of braille on some of your bracelets. The use of braille on everyday objects is not the norm. It struck me that you were an organization that not only used your craft for good to give back, but that you were also inclusive of others when doing so. I want to showcase businesses and products that practice inclusion in the things that we do at the Foundation so that inclusive approaches become the norm. This year especially with the Covid-19 crisis, I knew that I wanted to partner and focus on local Indiana businesses as our students come from around the state of Indiana to receive their education at the school. We have all been impacted by the challenges created by this crisis and if I can highlight local Indiana businesses to help increase awareness of their products then it makes me feel good that we are being concious and supportive of the community that gives so much to the children and families that we impact throughout the year.
LA: There are many ways to be more inclusive of individuals with visual impairments. Educate yourself more on policies or obstacles impacting individuals with visual impairments. Volunteer for an organization that impacts individuals with visual impairments and become a part of an effort that creates positive change for people with disabilities.
Thank you so much for sharing about IBCF and educating us on your mission! You can learn more about IBCF by visiting their website. We also made a few Braille bracelets available for you for a limited time. Find them HERE.
]]>These mugs use a process we rarely get a chance to talk about: decals! Mug decals are prolific. Any mug with a printed image from Staples or Walmart uses a decal process and often is photo-realistic in nature. However, using decals to customize pottery in the handmade world is still rare, especially at larger quantities. One of the best-known artists using decals today is another Indiana local, Justin Rothshank. Be sure to check out his work!
Our decals start life as a powdered glaze stored in our specially customized printer. Only around 20 of these printers exist in the United States; talk about rare! After setting up a print file in Photoshop, our team prints this file onto a special decal paper. The sheet is then laminated with a waterslide paper. This is the start of the real magic!
We try to pack as many decals on a single sheet as possible because printing decals isn’t cheap! The team cuts the sheet apart and organizes them by mug or bracelet order.
Just as clean water is important in life, clean water is essential to getting a good image transfer. Water that has clay dust or leftover glue residue causes the decals to break, ruining a whole mug. Instead, decals are dipped in fresh, filtered water to create the best image possible.
The team then slides the decal loose from its paper and places it on the correct part of the mug. Then they squeegee excess water from between the decal and the body of the mug. Ironically, water that is trapped underneath the decal will destroy the decal around it during a firing. A yellow rib is the best tool for ensuring the best-looking image.
Decaled mugs are then loaded into the decal kiln for their final firing before they’re ready to be sent home. This firing is nowhere near as toasty as our other kilns, about 1500° instead of 2100°. The firing process ensures that the final image is permanent, ready to withstand daily washings for a lifetime! After 14 hours, the mugs are cooled down and ready to be packaged and shipped to you!
Thanks for taking an inside look at this little-known process with us! Take a look at our most recent Artist Collection and support artists from around the world!
The beautiful mug featured in these photos are designed by Gia Graham, and today is the last day to get yours before they're gone forever. Bring one home HERE.
]]>Seven months later and it feels like January was a different decade. We reached out to our writer-author friend, Brooke, to share what her word of the year means to her now. And she came through with an awesome reflection. So grab your favorite mug and enjoy:
At the start of 2020 when I chose the word “integrate,” I felt like I had all these individual parts of myself that I’d finally put together, enabling myself to operate out of my values rather than living in reactive mode. I imagined myself as an expert engineer who’d put together each of the separate pieces within my life into one epic creation. And I thought this would happen fairly quickly so that I’d really enjoy the rest of the year as this newer version of myself.
But then 2020 actually happened. And geesh!
Instead of an engineer trained in putting together complex machinery, I felt like an eighteen year old putting together an IKEA dresser for the first time—the instructions, that at first seemed simple, lacked helpful details, and the hardware, that somehow all looked the same, was missing pieces. By March, I was tired, sweaty, and impatient as I saw what little progress I’d made putting the pieces of myself together correctly and realizing as I headed into a pandemic that I wasn’t at all who I wanted to be.
Now the year is more than halfway over, and I still don’t feel integrated. But I’ve also come to realize that doesn’t mean I chose the wrong word for the year. Just as the person putting together IKEA furniture learns or the engineer creating a robot understands, getting the pieces in the correct place and order the first time isn’t really reasonable or even as important as just getting it right eventually.
So I’m sticking with my goal of integration and trusting that I’ll get there eventually.
How has your Word of the Year informed your year?
Thanks for sharing, Brooke! Read about how Brooke chose her word back in January, here. Read more of Brooke's work on her Instagram and website.
]]>Camp Millhouse found a way! We chatted with Diana Breden to hear their creative solution to holding camp in the face of a disappointing summer season.
Camp Millhouse is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that started in 1937 as a camp for children with polio. Over the years we have transitioned into what we are today - a camp for children and adults with varying different abilities. We have been located on the southwest side of South Bend since 1940. I have been the Executive Director at camp since January 2014 when our long-time executive director (who was my sister) passed away. However, the camp has been a part of my life since I was very young because both of my sisters worked at Camp Millhouse in the mid and late 1970s.
By the middle of April, we realized there would be no safe way for us to hold our traditional camp this summer. Our campers were in a high-risk group and we did not want to take any chances of making any camper, staff, or their family members sick. In addition, we use a lot of PPE (Personal Protection Equipment) at camp and there was serious doubt we would be able to get enough PPE, cleaning supplies, and toilet paper to properly run camp. We made the decision to suspend our traditional in-person camp on April 24th.
We have an amazing Board of Directors who listened to us and made the decision early enough for us to have the time to plan to send camp to our campers this summer. Initially, we called it virtual camp (since they wouldn't be at camp) but we soon realized with all the virtual school going on that the thought of virtual camp did not create happy thoughts. So, we started planning and realized since it wouldn't be virtual in the way that most people thought about virtual, we would call it Camp-in-a-Box. We have really focused on sending our campers all the things they love about camp and we're creating videos showing them how to do the activities so it provides the camp connection with our program staff.
It has been ah-mazing! We have 95 campers who have signed up to participate. We were covered by our local news stations and have had new people who wanted to participate as well. Our camp community is all a-buzz with anticipation for the camp boxes and video activities.
Doing campfire every week at camp is one of our campers' favorite activities. Everyone sitting around the big fire, singing their favorite camp songs, dancing with their camp friends is how we usually open our week to welcome everyone "home". The campfire represents the special light inside each one of us that keeps the flame of friendship burning all year long.
Don't let the fear of failure keep you from trying something new. It may be the best thing ever to help your camp grow!
There is a "magic" in the air at Camp Millhouse. We have appropriately named it "camp magic". Our employees decide to work with us as a way to make a summer income, make a difference in the life of our campers with disabilities, or to get experience for a college class or major. However, they don't realize that at the end of their (very short) seven-week contract, they will be walking away with life-long friends who are more like family, memories with our special campers that will be with them forever, and love for a place they can always come "home" to.
Thanks for sharing your story with us, Diana! We're blown away by the way you thought outside of the box in order to love on your campers. We hope the campfire doodle is a great reminder of the awesome memories you helped your campers make this summer. Interested in learning more about Camp Millhouse? Check out their website and Facebook!
Purchasing our products in bulk and saving is easy! Simply add 15 or more products to your cart and we'll apply your discount automatically.
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Story by LeAnne Lavender, Water for Good
Here at Water for Good, we have a staff of 80 Central Africans who are employed to do a variety of tasks. These heroes drill the wells, keep the clean water flowing through well maintenance, transport the team through rough terrain, manage the radio station which broadcasts sanitation and hygiene messages, and too many other tasks to list out. It takes an amazing team to keep Water for Good operating, which provides clean water access to over 880,000 people living in the Central African Republic.
Let's meet two of them!
Meet Barthélemy.
At 29 years old, Barthélemy is on our Maintenance Team, serving as a team leader. He started at Water for Good in 2009 as the installer of the cement slabs that are used on the water pumps. He now drives the Water for Good motorcycle and does shorter maintenance trips to local wells.
Barthélemy believes the biggest advantage to the motorcycle maintenance team is their ability to respond rapidly, which means the wells are repaired faster and the team is more efficient. He enjoys helping out villages more quickly and still be home to help his kids with their homework.
Meet Virgile.
As a part of our supply chain team, he manages our stockroom and is a huge part of our sustainability plan. Virgile makes sure the pump parts are kept available for our maintenance teams in order to keep our water wells working. Fun fact: although not his native tongue, he runs his Excel spreadsheets in English to teach himself English! At home, he speaks French and Sango.
Since the Central African Republic is a landlocked country, getting the parts needed for well maintenance can be difficult. These aren’t parts you can find at your local hardware store. Instead they need to be brought across the border from a bordering country like Cameroon. Virgile helps keep the maintenance team running like a well-oiled drill rig.
These guys change lives for the better on a daily basis. Learn more about the work the Water for Good team is doing in the Central African Republic HERE. Keep the clean water flowing by shopping MudLOVE: every product provides one week of clean water to someone in the CAR.
]]>But this year we're encouraging everyone to shop small to support all those small business owners working their butts off to make ends meet. Whether you shop at MudLOVE or one of our retail partners, you're not only giving Mom a great gift, you're also creating real change. We reached out to three small businesses for examples of initiatives they've created to serve their communities.
Historic Perk is a fun coffee shop located in Springfield, Tennessee. Their southern charm is irresistible, and while we haven't tried their coffee yet, it's sure to be delicious! At the start of the pandemic they quickly launched an online shop to serve their customer while their coffee shop was closed. This week they put together some beautiful Mother's Day bundles that are available for curbside pickup! And if you're local, they'll deliver right to your door. Check them out here:
Historic Perk Website
Historic Perk Instagram and Facebook
Pete & Freddy's is a delightful book store just down the road from MudLOVE, in Mentone, Indiana. They blew our socks off when they pivoted so quickly in reaction to the pandemic. These two sisters immediately started free local deliveries and continued shipping nationwide. Is your mom a bookworm? Her next read may just support a women-led small business! Message Pete & Freddy for more info:
Pages Aplenty Instagram
Pages Aplenty Facebook
Old Lutheran is a faith-based small business out of Moorehead, Minnesota. They are committed to selling products that are intentionally and ethically sourced (and we're proud to partner with them!). While they are an online-only shop, they are a fun crew. They take part in foosball tournaments at the office; can you tell they're competitive? They put together a Mother's Day collection full of witty and meaningful gifts just for Mom. Check them out here:
Old Lutheran Website
Old Lutheran Instagram and Facebook
Have we inspired you to #shoplocal this Mother's Day? Contact us for a MudLOVE retail partner near you!
]]>My name is Keith Sampson. I am originally from Maryland, outside of Washington DC and came to Indiana in 1995 to attend Grace College. Since graduating in 2000, I have stayed in the area making it my home. I am married to my wife, Keri, and have three kids; Ava, Finn, and Cove. A pivotal point in my life was when my dad was diagnosed with ALS when I was 19. When I went home the first time after the diagnosis, my cousin, Ray, told me “Keith, you have two choices, go through this or grow through it. What you choose will determine everything.” I chose to grow and it changed my life. I have carried that with me in life and business. I am the National Sales Director for North American Bancard as well as own my own company, Trident 21. My passion is helping people, specifically businesses grow and if possible, adopting a culture of achieving a greater purpose than profit.
I have known about MudLOVE for years. I knew Luke when he was in junior high and high school. I was a youth leader at the church he attended. Whitney was a friend in college and beyond. I have always loved and admired the way they have successfully combined passion with a greater purpose and supported Water for Good as a focus of their business plan.
Let me start with the fact that I LOVE community. Community is essential to the way that we were created. As an extreme extrovert, I need it. Community often means putting yourself last in a lot of ways. It is important to look at community with the mental position of giving without expectations. I see how this pandemic has elevated community and togetherness in a similar way to 9/11. We all need to support our community and find new ways to participate in community.
First, it goes back to the idea of giving without expectations. One of the first things was coming up with a way to help local restaurants, especially those that are newer or smaller and may not have the financial backing to weather this storm. If we want to enjoy them later, we must support them now. Out of that pure desire to help, several of us acted and Giftcardsurge.com was born. What started as buying gift cards with donations to inject cash into area restaurants and sell them discounted to the area residents so they can have a cheaper meal, is turning into a full business. It’s pretty amazing.
One of the biggest actions I personally took was to have “in this together” bracelets made by MudLOVE. I am sending them to all my clients with a letter of encouragement and giving them to the area restaurants that we are working to support. Frankly, I will give one to whoever is in my community that needs it.
It is the best description of that feeling inside of you when an outside force pulls us all together for one common purpose. Race, gender, background, it doesn’t matter. When I started posting on social media I used it as a hashtag and saw that it was a growing hashtag. I am someone that is overly positive and optimistic and really desires to spread that hope and positivity. “In this together” truly is the war cry against this crisis. We must all have that feeling and take the actions that are necessary to keep others safe and support our communities.
It’s been fantastic so far. Most of the time when you give without expectations, that is what happens. Gift Card Surge nearly sold out of gift cards in the first 30 hours and we were able to buy a second round of cards. More “in this together” bracelets are going out this week. I have been on social media promoting the bracelets in all channels with great responses. Everyone is struggling in one way or another. When we can spread positivity and hope, that is a real success story.
Start with the simplest thing: thank them. Email them, message them, write thank you cards and send them. Secondly, without financially straining yourself, support them. Buy a gift card that you can use later. Order a meal that can be delivered or responsibly picked up. Save your money to spend with them when their doors reopen. Order online if they have an online presence. There are so many methods to show support, but it comes down to one message: if you want to enjoy them later, you must support them now.
Thanks for sharing your story, Keith! We learned a lot from our conversation.
Check out the "in this together." bracelet we created, inspired by Keith's story. Send it to a friend or business and let them know you're on their team. Personalize them further by choosing to receive a free mailer with your purchase. Include a note, treat, and even decorate the mailer for a boost of encouragement.
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