Is there anything more important than a true friend? I am lucky to have a handful, and as my brother Tim often said before he passed, if you can hold up your hand and count a true friend for every finger then you have it all.  He was right. This is a short story of my daughter Taylor’s best friend Hope, and how she inspired our newest “love you” tee. 

We are excited to share with you a new monthly post—Nik's top 5. A quick read of five of the coolest, thought provoking, interesting, (and maybe even funny) tidbits that we are loving. 

Saying “I love you” seems like such a simple thing to do.  

And, in fact it is. 

I say it all the time – to my family, friends and anyone else I feel compelled to share it with.  I can speak for Emily as well in that she is equally as generous with this simple sentiment (it’s one of many things we have in common!).

The news of late has been dark and scary to say the least.  Although we are watching and and worrying about the state of our world, we have reason today also to celebrate!

When Emily and I started our little company, all we really wanted to do was put “good design and good words” out into the world. 

Phew, we made it to the other side of 2020 and are so happy to be here.

When we first started talking about venturing Into business together, it was over Pizzeria Uno dinners, Starbucks coffee dates and facetime calls late into the night. These conversations about a new possible venture were always mixed with other topics.   Our kids, parents, and our other jobs were always part of the recipe

At least locally, the Black Lives Matter push in the media seems to have dimmed. The rush of stories of brutality, injustice and information coming to the surface has slowed. Protests and marches for justice have waned. We are in the summer swing—enjoying time outside and doing our best to make the most of the strangest summer of isolation on record. It's easy to let the events of a few months ago fade into the distance and find some comfort and normalcy, as if these things aren't still happening.

This has been a tough week for our country and like everyone else, we feel shattered by the death of George Floyd.  Truth be told, I have not watched the video in full.  I am afraid to see a fellow human being begging for their life to unanswered pleas from the very people sworn to protect it.  It’s hard to think of anything else these days and COVID feels like the distant past. We are sad, confused, feel helpless and a sense of underlying guilt is creeping in. We don’t pretend to know what to do and we certainly don’t remotely understand the incredibly complex issues that have captured our nation through the murder of George Floyd.