Our Awkward Little Secret
Folks,
We've been holding onto a secret, and it's bearing down on us like the weight of the heavens on the hairy, glistening shoulders of Atlas himself.
It's time to admit who we really are.
It's time to tell truth.
Ready?
We're a couple of stingy, second hand-shopping, mend-it, fix-it, I could-make-that-myself penny savers who have typically not indulged in much gift buying. And now, because of our love of local handmade goods and crafting, we own a gift shop, where our most important job is to help people give great gifts!
Okay. What!?
We are just a couple of dang posers.
And there's something else...
We're not just reluctant gift buyers by accident.
We actually believe traditional gift giving is highly overrated.
Phew. Now you know.
Please don't tell anyone though, because if people stop buying birthday and Christmas gifts here, our shop will evaporate as fast as morning mist from the Otonabee.
We do see the value in the giving on gifts on predetermined dates according to cultural customs (and enjoy partaking occasionally), but we think that giving purely out of a sense of obligation, or a sense that the money we spend represents how much we care, are practices that lead to overconsumption. And who wants piles of disposable crud they don't need or love but feel obligated to keep? Not us. Not Marie Kondo. Not most people.
But here's the other side of that complex coin of consumption at W&L:
In the two and half years of running this place, YOU have taught us just how very, very special and lovely and wonderful gift giving and getting can be when certain elements are in place, and we are becoming better and more frequent gift givers ourselves in the process.
So, in our troubled material world, what makes a very, very special and lovely and wonderful gift that does not needlessly dig us further into a steaming pile of carbon-emitting, plastic-leaching, future-stealing, wealth-gap making waste??
Here's what we have gleaned from your wise ways so far...
1. The gift is truly wanted/needed.
How do you keep a gift a surprise AND find out what that person truly wants? Maybe you can go for a walk downtown with them. Bring up some of your favourite local artists and find out what likes you have in common. Snoop who they follow on social media. Listen carefully. Maybe an experience, a meal, or something you make is going to strike a chord more than something bought. Maybe something practical is better suited than something decorative or vice versa. Maybe they don't care so much about surprises and would actually like to pick something out.
2. It's given out of love & appreciation.
Just to reiterate, please don't stop buying birthday and Christmas gifts or our business will crumble to the ground. However, the most special gifting we've witnessed is given with a true desire to show someone how worthy they are of something beautiful, useful, and special. These feelings might well up at times other than pre-ordained holidays, hence our belief that spontaneous gifting can be even more special than the scheduled kind.
3. It lifts someone's spirit when they need it most.
"You don't get flowers for chronic pain" is a sentiment expressed on many a personal blog. We tend to pile presents on people when they're receiving a lot of attention already, but what about your bud in the corner who is dealing with depression, anxiety, loss, loneliness, trauma, or ongoing physical health problems that have no cure? Or your single bud who receives way less gifts overall than your coupled friends?
4. It reinvests in the community.
A gift can be extra special when the giftee knows where it was made, by whom, and with what. The value of objects has so much to do with the people and places to which they are connected, and we LOVE sending money every month to dozens of people in the community who get to spend more time being creative as a result. We know you get it. Thanks for investing in the little guy instead of billionaires when you can.
So here's our new gift-giving mantra:
<<GIVE FOR CONNECTION, NOT OBLIGATION>>
Meanwhile, we promise to do our best to reduce our environmental footprint by sourcing locally, favouring suppliers who source materials locally, reusing packing materials, and providing space for people who are doing important work for the planet.
And on that note, please join us on the the third Sunday of the month, February through May, for the Repair Café!
This is an amazing local crew of very kind nerds who volunteer their time to help you save items from the landfill. They used to work out of The Spill (R.I.P.) and have an incredible fixing track record. There will be fixers for clothing, electronics, and housewares, and more. Bring one or two things, and hang with us for a while! More details to come :)
Love from,
Anna & Erin
[These outtakes were too good to keep to ourselves.]
832 comments
These establishments, also known as shirt rooms or shirt lounges, offer visitors a chance to relax and unwind in the company of beautiful women <a href=“https://garakdong.site”길동노래방 https://garakdong.site
Our website features a directory of the best shirt rooms in the area, each with its own unique style and atmosphere. 강남셔츠룸 Whether you’re looking for a quiet and intimate experience or a wild and raucous party, you’ll find it all on https://xinyimun.store
https://open.mit.edu/profile/01HETKC39MWKVXPY4Y069C1WSM/
https://www.gta5-mods.com/users/upnewsdaily
https://www.metal-archives.com/users/upnewsdaily
https://peatix.com/user/19779550/view
https://www.intensedebate.com/people/upnewsdaily
https://influence.co/upnewsdaily
https://hub.docker.com/u/upnewsdaily
https://beermapping.com/account/upnewsdaily
https://www.bitsdujour.com/profiles/aTCpSF
https://leetcode.com/upnewsdaily/
https://s.id/upnewsdaily
https://www.behance.net/indraonce
https://www.divephotoguide.com/user/upnewsdaily
https://www.chordie.com/forum/profile.php?id=1778692
https://profile.hatena.ne.jp/bogo33/profile
https://www.mapleprimes.com/users/upnewsdaily
https://recordsetter.com//user/indraonceonce
http://www.rohitab.com/discuss/user/1918702-upnewsdaily/
https://app.roll20.net/users/12658265/up-n
https://www.renderosity.com/users/lupus99
https://www.speedrun.com/users/lupus99
https://swipestudio.co/forums/discussion/general/eric-clapton-guitar-sells-for-13m-after-being-considered-one-of-the-worlds-most-famous-instruments
https://www.metooo.io/u/upnewsdailyinfo
https://www.zillow.com/profile/upnewsdailyinfo
https://diigo.com/0uk3d1
https://groups.google.com/g/comp.protocols.time.ntp/c/2Pj8GriRk24
https://groups.google.com/g/comp.protocols.time.ntp/c/HLH4W_5ZWzA
https://groups.google.com/g/comp.protocols.time.ntp/c/8ZJyizu8XVY
https://groups.google.com/g/comp.protocols.time.ntp/c/wpCfIruMD5M
https://groups.google.com/g/comp.protocols.time.ntp/c/vTHbMokvprk
https://groups.google.com/g/comp.protocols.time.ntp/c/4WwbOAz2yMA
https://groups.google.com/g/comp.protocols.time.ntp/c/qQtPPXkD340
https://groups.google.com/g/comp.protocols.time.ntp/c/Z6WLt-Bv2jI
https://groups.google.com/g/comp.protocols.time.ntp/c/MqFIVsxnHdk
https://groups.google.com/g/comp.protocols.time.ntp/c/fIvGYwO8K5A
https://groups.google.com/g/comp.protocols.time.ntp/c/UQNDpGT63S0
https://groups.google.com/g/comp.protocols.time.ntp/c/c5QKAASeJpI
https://groups.google.com/g/comp.protocols.time.ntp/c/VbpAj_b1V4Y
https://groups.google.com/g/comp.protocols.time.ntp/c/qZsaXVwOmIc
https://groups.google.com/g/comp.protocols.time.ntp/c/vlR7NTLdQcI
https://groups.google.com/g/comp.protocols.time.ntp/c/g75qYMmZCl4
https://groups.google.com/g/comp.protocols.time.ntp/c/d6DsSN2P00k
https://groups.google.com/g/comp.protocols.time.ntp/c/FSmeQc8fPnA
https://groups.google.com/g/comp.protocols.time.ntp/c/EQ-Gmntvp84
https://groups.google.com/g/comp.protocols.time.ntp/c/gSpNROjDvLg
https://groups.google.com/g/comp.protocols.time.ntp/c/WB6xBsPSQcw
https://groups.google.com/g/comp.protocols.time.ntp/c/mFGHRyZjO4E
https://groups.google.com/g/comp.protocols.time.ntp/c/LumY5Fz5_nA
https://groups.google.com/g/comp.protocols.time.ntp/c/XAJJoaVEaa8
https://groups.google.com/g/comp.protocols.time.ntp/c/WFTDfPgp-2E
https://groups.google.com/g/sub-thai-hd-cinema-film-hub/c/Fz-VBbp5Mog
https://groups.google.com/g/sub-thai-hd-cinema-film-hub/c/TrJxad4uxgc
https://groups.google.com/g/sub-thai-hd-cinema-film-hub/c/U1J1900LSss
https://groups.google.com/g/sub-thai-hd-cinema-film-hub/c/z7nHTweVAN4
https://groups.google.com/g/sub-thai-hd-cinema-film-hub/c/Ezgpi5zn0ic
https://lookerstudio.google.com/reporting/bada1af2-b178-4f5c-a01d-0d72d1c1d5cf/page/qVOjD
https://lookerstudio.google.com/reporting/f4b2bf83-2d77-42d5-98fa-131512822aad
https://lookerstudio.google.com/reporting/e90b09e0-488c-4d8e-87b1-7c44ba55adcd/page/wZMjD
https://lookerstudio.google.com/reporting/f83c4ffa-62fd-4f42-ba59-9b7fa09e4caa
https://lookerstudio.google.com/reporting/ce9a07ce-bb22-4e9b-a776-a8cf926c469e
https://lookerstudio.google.com/reporting/fa1e098f-b977-471e-bac4-d713919d1473
https://lookerstudio.google.com/reporting/fb513f03-4339-47e4-8ba0-ee96534a5ad9
https://lookerstudio.google.com/reporting/920b042d-d969-4767-ae3e-dae06e69dada
https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.190332570810408
https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.190333550810310
https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.190333590810306
https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.190333610810304
https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.190333677476964
https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.191060810748978
https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.191060874082305
https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.191060910748968
https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.191060937415632
https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.191060974082295
https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.192753630569602
https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.192753657236266
https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.192753677236264
https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.192753713902927
https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.192753740569591
https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.190337197476612
https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.190337240809941
https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.190337270809938
https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.190337297476602
https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.190337330809932
https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.191063860748673
https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.191063914082001
https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.191063970748662
https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.191064020748657
https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.191064057415320
https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.192755930569372
https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.192755960569369
https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.192755983902700
https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.192756013902697
https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.192756050569360
https://sites.google.com/view/gogsearch-generative-countris/halaman-muka
https://groups.google.com/g/dragon2021/c/3DJggqtGf_Q
https://gamma.app/docs/Googles-Search-Generative-Experience-SGE-Expands-To-120-Countries-bfgp5t76u8n2cmf?mode=doc
https://www.articlewood.com/expands-to-120-countries/
https://www.articlebowl.com/google-announced-an-expansion/
https://www.articlequarter.com/googles-generative-experience-sge/
https://articlepedia.xyz/googles-experience-countries/
https://www.articlewood.com/googles-search-sge/
https://www.articlequarter.com/googles-generative-experience-sge/
https://www.articlefloor.com/googles-search-countries-expands-to-120/
https://www.articlebowl.com/googles-search-120-countries/
https://articlepedia.xyz/googles-experience-countries/
https://pastelink.net/s8oya7ii
https://dev.epicgames.com/community/profile/D93Ev/puhki089895
https://plaza.rakuten.co.jp/puhki/diary/202311260000/
https://wandering.flarum.cloud/d/28754-bhfbfbf
https://forum.objectblocks.cc/d/34105-gbfbf
https://herbalmeds-forum.biolife.com.my/d/24630-bgfbfb
https://jpn.itlibra.com/board?board_id=528
https://www.bitsdujour.com/profiles/z56kF1
https://encartele.tribe.so/post/yfthj-65630d5f9a0a1da451197348
https://followme.tribe.so/post/hbrthyt-65630d6c635a8121a28fac5b
https://roggle-delivery.tribe.so/post/ghffhbf-65630d796f80421996e0b130
http://www.de.kuas.edu.tw/community/viewtopic.php?CID=17&Topic_ID=24923
https://thankyou.tribe.so/post/htyrhytfh-65630dc66f80425070e0b132
https://community.thebatraanumerology.com/post/hytfh-65630dd16f80422986e0b134
https://community.thebatraanumerology.com/post/hrtjuykjuyk-65639107e507f3c16b821414
https://thankyou.tribe.so/post/hyrtjjjrjuu-656390f5c7660ed0aaace5fb
http://www.de.kuas.edu.tw/community/viewtopic.php?CID=17&Topic_ID=24948
https://roggle-delivery.tribe.so/post/hrtjhyjkyk-656390cc936e986ddb6adca4
https://followme.tribe.so/post/hjrkjuyjkuyk-656390bfce715ba17d837f2b
https://encartele.tribe.so/post/jhrjrjjkrjyu-656390b0ce715b3b74837f29
https://www.bitsdujour.com/profiles/z56kF1
https://jpn.itlibra.com/board?board_id=530
https://herbalmeds-forum.biolife.com.my/d/24710-hrtjhytjryhj
https://forum.objectblocks.cc/d/34143-jhrjhyrhjytj
https://wandering.flarum.cloud/d/28836-nhgfrhgjhu
https://plaza.rakuten.co.jp/puhki/diary/202311260000/
https://satitmattayom.nrru.ac.th/?dwqa-question=fbhfdgng
https://taylorhicks.ning.com/forum/topics/gbfbfgs
https://webhitlist.com/forum/topics/hbfbfbf
https://www.onfeetnation.com/forum/topics/bfbfbf
http://www.iamhiphop.com/forum/topics/hgfngn
https://justpaste.me/7Jv9
https://www.pastery.net/swzuud/
https://yamcode.com/hytrhytt-2
https://paste2.org/32gMOY7j
http://pastie.org/p/24mr8V4wERkjdaa66rqqVx
https://justpaste.it/cr6d3
https://onecompiler.com/html/3zunta7tt
https://paste.ee/p/9O9MQ
https://bitbin.it/XrxFWYhx/
https://pastelink.net/d6fk2leh
https://groups.google.com/g/lees-dguns-2/c/pUx_S4IgfmA
https://groups.google.com/g/the-jester/c/dCzdfGICsdI
https://groups.google.com/g/the-jester/c/s3w5-fR79vc
https://groups.google.com/g/the-jester/c/Lmpg6BuQ7is
https://groups.google.com/g/the-jester/c/Bb_ZhdQZFOk
https://groups.google.com/g/the-jester/c/q6IZLDC9ffA
https://groups.google.com/g/the-jester/c/NJ3kCQ3iQgA
https://groups.google.com/g/the-jester/c/zju4vAHxlBI
https://groups.google.com/g/the-jester/c/fdeEPnx_GRc
https://groups.google.com/g/the-jester/c/xG4YmGBFBfs
https://pastelink.net/41byrv9n
https://bitbin.it/leVOg79n/
https://www.hashtap.com/@roronoa.zoro/ased-WNgL20A0vJwd
https://telegra.ph/le-denguns-11-26
https://thankyou.tribe.so/post/afadad-6562ef10a477e723a708a71d
https://community.thebatraanumerology.com/post/aseed-6562ef3249e5f79dbbdbf874
https://wandering.flarum.cloud/d/28733-asefd
https://forum.webnovel.com/d/143524-ased
https://groups.google.com/g/banklink/c/Rn4LfJaqcAg
https://www.scoop.it/topic/sipaling-paling?curate=true&onb=1&loader=1