A Little April Reset 🌸!

Is it just me, or has 2026 felt like both twelve months long and barely two weeks at the same time? Somehow… here we are in April.

I’ve always loved this month. It feels like new beginnings…probably because it’s also my birthday month. Someone once told me that birthdays are our own personal New Year…a fresh start and a chance to reset. This year ends in a “5” for me and I’ve always believed the “5s” and “0s” deserve a little extra attention—especially as I get older 🥳, haha. So yes, I’ll be celebrating accordingly and embracing this next year with gusto ❤️‍🔥.

It’s also shaping up to be a busy season, with nine shows coming up between now and mid-May. The behind-the-scenes work can get intense—printing, packaging, schlepping, early mornings, etc.—but I always get it done. And truly, the reward is being out there, connecting with my customers. As much work as it is, those moments continue to inspire me and are a big part of what has kept me going for 25+ years.

This month is also been a quiet reminder of just how much the people in our lives matter, from the friends and family we see often and those to those we hold close in quieter ways. Time with the people we love is something I never want to take for granted.

3 Things I’m Loving This Month 💖

Copper Page Nibs by Levenger
A bit random, but this purchase has brought me so much joy. Paper-thin and shaped like a pen nib ✒️ (IYKYK), they mark pages in my work and personal planners in the most elegant, barely-there way…great for bookmarks too! A small, thoughtful delight. On sale for $15 for a box of 50!

Needlepoint (Again!)
I picked this back up last summer in Chicago after stumbling into a charming shop called Third Coast Stitches. It brought back memories of my mom’s beautiful work—pillows, dolls, and ornaments I still treasure. I’m slowly working on a Christmas tree canvas with hopes of turning it into an ornament…and maybe starting a tradition for my own kids. Stay tuned (I hope!).

Fresh Flowers—Just Because
Nothing fancy, but I love picking up a simple mix of flowers (Trader Joe’s, of course!!) and putting them in a favorite vase. It’s such an easy way to brighten a space (and my mood), especially during busy weeks.

As we step into this new month (and for me, a new year), I’m reminded how much the little things matter—the connections, the traditions, the everyday moments that make us who we are.

Maybe April is a good excuse to reach out to someone you’ve been thinking about…a quick note, a simple hello, a small reminder that they matter. I challenge you to write a note to someone special this week 🐌 💌!

With Love and Ink 💌…

Jill

A March Love Note 💌

Hello March 🍀,

I’m easing into this month feeling a little stretched, not overwhelmed, just aware of how full the next few months are going to be.

February gave me a gift, though. My annual trip to New York with my friend Stacey was exactly what I needed. Shopping. Great meals. A Broadway show ("Operation Mincement"  5 ⭐'s!). Walking in Central Park. No agenda beyond being there. I came home rested in a way that only happens when you truly step out of your routine for a few days.

And now…real life again.

The calendar is filling quickly. Show season is around the corner. There’s printing, packaging, planning — all the things I know well after 25 years in this business. And still, each season requires a fresh rhythm.

So March, for me, is about finding steady ground before the pace picks up.

💁‍♀️ Not changing everything.

🐝 Not doing more.

⚓ Just staying anchored.

One small thing that helped last week? I sat down and wrote seven notes in one afternoon. No big reason — just because. And it felt grounding in the best way. Slowing down long enough to put pen to paper reminded me that connection doesn’t have to be complicated.

3 Things I’m Loving This Month 💚:

🛍️ Remembering My Visit to the Frank & Eileen store on Madison Avenue

On our NYC trip, I visited one of my favorite brand's very first brick-and-mortar shop — and it was such a treat. The space is two stories and somehow feels more like an Irish cottage than a retail store. Warm wood, thoughtful details, and it even has a tiny kitchen and living room space...and a secret candy shop 🤫. The whole experience felt intentional and inviting. I did come home with a piece I’ll wear for years, but honestly, what I loved most was seeing how beautifully they brought their brand to life in a physical space.

👂📗 Listening to Strangers: A Wedding Memoir by Belle Burden
I cannot stop listening. I’m on Audible, and it’s narrated by the author, which makes it even more captivating. It’s reflective, observant, and quietly powerful, one of those stories that lingers with you long after you pause it and from what I hear it will likely get a movie deal. Audio books provide great listening material for me while I'm in my office folding and packaging!

🍃 Preparing for a Full Season...Without the Rush
I know the next few months will be busy with shows, printing, and packaging. Instead of bracing for it, I’m trying to move toward it steadily. One list at a time. One project at a time. Calm preparation feels very different from reactive scrambling which is challenging for me but I will try!

Happy March, and cheers to more snail mail 🐌 💌.

With love (and ink),
Jill
Social Butterfly Designs ✍🏼🦋

A February Love Note (and a different way to think about Valentine's Day) 💌

Hello February 💕

This month always arrives with a little extra heart and while Valentine’s Day often gets labeled as romantic, I like to think of it as something bigger. An opportunity 💌 .

An opportunity to pause and write a note…not just to a partner, but to a friend who shows up, a co-worker who makes your days easier, a neighbor, or someone who could use a reminder that they matter.

Some of the most meaningful notes I’ve written (and received) had nothing to do with romance. They were about gratitude, encouragement, and connection…emotions that last longer than flowers and chocolate.

Valentine’s Day has always felt like a time for handwritten notes but if writing a Valentine feels like too much, try this instead: “I was thinking about you and wanted you to know…”

As you move through February, I hope you’ll consider sending even just one handwritten note to someone who isn’t expecting it. No pressure. No perfection. Just connection, in some very little ways:

📝 In a short handwritten note left on the counter.
💌 In a card sent “just because.”
🐌 In the simple act of slowing down long enough to write someone’s name.

In case you missed it, I am hosting little Valentine event on Thursday, February 5 from 5 to 7 pm! Please join, me, Rock Goddess Jewelry and Mrs. Hovies Toffee if you’re in the area and can make it!

3 Things I’m Loving This Month 💖:

💘 Valentine’s (of course!)

For all the reasons mentioned above and then some, Valentine’s Day conjures up memories of vintage valentines being passed out to all my early childhood classmates, sometimes with a special treat or message…always a favorite school day for me!

🗽 Annual New York City Trip with Stacey

Every February, for past 10+ years I have had the great blessing of going to NYC with my bestie Stacey…and boy do we have fun: winter walks in Central Park, fine dining, shows, museums, shopping, morning coffee at Saint Ambroeus, discovering new places and lots of laughter. Traveling with a longtime friend hits differently at this stage of life and in all the right ways. I’m so excited…stay tuned for a reel later this month!

🌊 Early Morning Winter Beach Walks

I like to say “this is where the magic happens”…I typically walk several miles along the Esplanade and the Redondo Beach Pier a couple of days a week and oh how it fills my soul. I have had so many incredible experiences in these moments and met some of the most wonderful people. I’ll have to write more on this at a later date but I have stories! This past weekend there were dolphins aplenty too, it can’t help but put you in an elevated mood!

Happy February, and happy writing.

With love (and ink),
Jill
Social Butterfly Designs ✍🏼🦋

A January Love Note 💌

Dear Friends,

For me, January always feels like a fresh page 🗒️. After the hurried pace of December 👟, this quieter month is a time to slow down, clear some space (physically and mentally), and settle into more relaxed and familiar routines.

I am starting 2026 with a little reset -- cleaning out my office and closet (still a work in progress🚪). In the process of going through my main (and very disorganized) desk drawer, I rediscovered a handful of old pens just beautifully sitting there in the midst of all the clutter that "was" my desk drawer. Getting them back in working order was a small but satisfying reminder that sometimes the things we love most are already right in front of us, just waiting to be used again.

I also find the new year as a time to clear the clutter and noise that dilutes me from fulfilling my priorites so I also like to delete the emails I don't need, clean my drawers, cancel unused subscriptions, clear out my closet of things I no longer wear and remove the many apps I don't use. Bonus: I listed over 25 new    items in my Posmark closet and made 3 sales!

This month is all about slowing down, reading, writing, and easing gently into the new year.

Three Things I'm Loving This Month:

✍️ Pens
Old favorites, newly rediscovered. There’s something comforting about reaching for a pen that feels just right and letting the ink flow without rushing. I've been a certified pen snob for most of my life so this one is real for me, 😂. My favorite every day pens still remain the Pilot G-2 Roller pen 0.7 and the Sharpie S-Gel pen 0.7. But these oldies but goodies (see image below) are back up and running and ready to roll!

📚 The Book “The Correspondent”
While I read this last year, I loved this book by Virginia Evans so much as it was a beautiful reminder of the intimacy and timelessness of handwritten letters — and why putting pen to paper still matters. If you haven't read it yet, I highly recommend it!!

Hoping for more reading in 2026!

🎙️ “The Nerve” Podcast with Maureen Callahan

"The Nerve" with Maureen Callahan is one of my favorite guilty pleasures...home for everything from not-regularly-promoted takes on pop culture to true crime, Maureen masterfully dissects everything with whip smart analysis, humor, and skepticism. Is anyone else a fan?

❤️ With Love,

                                                                         Jill

P.S. Your thoughts are appreciated! With the positive response I received from my first Love Note in December, I have decided to make this a regular monthly email and blog post. I hope you find it of interest Happy New Year!

And, for anyone interested in some before and after office photos 🫠..