13 Lucky Years- 13 Gifts of Gratitude!

As we celebrate 13 years in business this month, I want to share some notes of appreciation for the wonderful gifts Happy Habitat has given me since its start in August of 2011.

1) FLEXIBILITY

I started Happy Habitat when my kids were just 3 and 7 and I became a single parent along the way. Being able to work at odd hours allowed me to take my kids to and from school, take them to appointments, be at school events, and have maybe TOO MUCH together time working from home! Wouldn't trade it for anything. 

Thank you for the versatility! 🙏🏽💫🍀✨

2) NO MONOTONY HERE

I love that I get to shift from looking at numbers and graphs, to getting creative with words and colors. Whether it be photography or creating throw designs-- there's always something new to switch to. Never a dull day! 

Thank you for the variety! 🙏🏽💫🍀✨

3) TRAVEL

My first visit to New York City was to attend the NY Now show in 2015-- I came home exhausted and said it would take years to recover, but when Design Milk founder Jaime Derringer asked me to come back a few weeks later for ICFF, I bravely said yes. 7 trips later and zero regrets. I now love visiting NYC for market, and have also had the opportunity to attend shows in Las Vegas, Chicago and LA. Getting to sneak in museums visits and exploring new restaurants and sights and sounds is rejuvenating! Next up: setting my sights on Maison&Objet in Paris for an upcoming adventure.

Thank you for invigorating new experiences! 🙏🏽💫🍀✨

4) COLOR PLAY

I couldn't have dreamed up this job as a child. I used to love coloring in those pattern coloring books and creating color stories- each set of colors creating its own feel and vibe. I could do it all day long, and now as an adult- I do! Getting to place color in real life coloring books that are functional throw blankets is a dream I didn't know I had.

Thank you for letting me roll around in color all day! 🙏🏽💫🍀✨

5) IT'S A SMALL WORLD

From finding a shop owner in Japan, to a Kansas City native who owns a beautiful boutique in Honolulu, I've loved making relationships with folks from all over the world! 

Thank you for the making the world feel more connected! 🙏🏽💫🍀✨

6) BUSINESS CONNECTIONS

I admit it-- the term 'networking' is kind of icky to me. But in this Happy Habitat world- it comes naturally and has drawn me to some of the most talented designers, makers and business owners! I'll spare you the name dropping, but lucky to call some of my connections more than colleagues but actual friends. 

Thank you for enriching my life with cool people! 🙏🏽💫🍀✨

7) HAPPY HABITAT IN THE WILD

Perhaps it's my vanity, but to see my babies out in the world in your homes is incredibly satisfying. Seeing new and unexpected environments with a Happy Habitat throw as part of the design mix is confirmation for what I do every day.

Thank you for the fulfilling visual treats! 🙏🏽💫🍀✨

8) PERFECT TIMING

2011 was a magical time to start a business. Instagram had just started and was booming, my home town of Kansas City had (and still does!) a great local entrepreneurial spirit and the internet was smaller with less competition. Algorithms weren't a thing, AI didn't exist: it was like an open wild west frontier ready and willing to be wrangled in. Things are a little different today, but I'm grateful for the kick off. Those building blocks made for a foundation that has allowed me to be here 13 years later.

Thank you for the stars aligning at the right time for the biz lift-off! 🙏🏽💫🍀✨

9) INDEPENDENCE

I'll be honest, I really don't like being told how to do things. For me independence equals freedom. I don't like people looking over my shoulder and I believe too many cooks in the kitchen makes for watered down creativity. I'm here for the full saturated weirdness, and happy there's no one to tell me I can't do it.

Thank you for giving me space to freely be me! 🙏🏽💫🍀✨

10) THE LESSONS LEARNED

This isn't a job where you can just do the same thing over and over and survive. Constant learning and staying fresh with technology and trends is a must. I'm glad I don't have the chance to get too comfortable-- comfort diminishes motivation (unless it's a throw of course!) I hope to always have the drive to create and am really forced into staying in discovery mode!

Thank you for the opportunity to grow! 🙏🏽💫🍀✨

11) A FAMILY AFFAIR

 I love that my kids get to see what this 'job' is like. I work from home- they celebrate the wins and they are there for the losses and lessons learned too. 

Thank you for including my people! 🙏🏽💫🍀✨

12) MAKING NEW PATHS

Since I've never been a business owner or blanket designer before, I have no preconceived notions of what it should look like. It's certainly fun to come at a task with fresh eyes and do things as they haven't been done before. Sometimes I'll look up "how is this or that done", but I usually throw those answers out the window and look at it as "how will this best function for me and my business and my customers". Being logical, eco-friendly and resourceful has allowed me to take an untraditional path at doing things, and I love breaking new ground!

Thank you for letting me break the rules and forge new traditions! 🙏🏽💫🍀✨

13) YOU

I could never have imagined the kind support I've received from design-minded folks like yourselves. I've worked in customer service before and I know it can be rough-- but not here. A Happy Habitat customer is patient, understanding, generous and kind. I am beyond grateful that YOU have found me and that I have made my way to you and into your homes.

Thank YOU for making this a joyful journey! 🙏🏽💫🍀✨