House plants are all the rage these days and if you just googled house plants, you'll see a vast amount of information covering more basic and common house plants. If you've been following us for a while now, you'll know that we're crazy about our studio and shop plants. And we recently even decided to show that by hosting Intro to House Plants Workshops to share all we know about plants with you! 

You may be familiar with easy, no-kill plants for even the "blackest" thumb, like the Snake Plant, ZZ plant and Pothos. But if you've graduated from those, or just want to try out some other great indoor plants that are tried and true, (by us!), look no further! Just scroll on down to check out our five favorite indoor plants! 

BEST HOUSE PLANT #1 STRING OF PEARLS

Also known as "Senecio Rowleyanus", this is a creeping, perennial, succulent vine belonging to the family Asteraceae. We love their pea shaped little leaves and how they trail over plant pots. They also come in various sizes so we love this tiny one we've got as a little desk buddy. 

HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR STRING OF PEARLS PLANT: 

Bright but indirect light and soil that drains well so it can dry out completely between watering

BEST HOUSE PLANT #2 SILVER POTHOS

Also known as "Pothos Argenteus", this is a relative of the Golden Pothos (what most people are familiar with). We love it for the satin feel of its leaves and beautiful hints of silver color. We love them in a table top planter stand so its vines can trail as it grows! 

HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR SILVER POTHOS PLANT: 

Place in a planter in indirect sunlight and water when soil feels dry 2" below the top. 

BEST HOUSE PLANT #3 PHILODENDRON SELLOUM

With almost 500 different varieties, you're sure to find a Philodendron friend you'll love! We're partial to Philodendron Selloum for its fun shaped leaves that add texture to any space. Given the right conditions, this fella can grow up to 5 feet and produce leaves that are 2-3 feet in size! We also love that he adds some of those tropical vibes. 

HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR PHILODENDRON SELLOUM PLANT: 

Loves bright, indirect light and likes moist, but not soggy soil, so don't over water! 

BEST HOUSE PLANT #4 PEPEROMIA

Another plant genera with over 1000 species, you're probably going to end up in love like we did as you try to grow your collection of different Peperomias! We personally love the Peperomia Obtusifolia for its shiny circular leaves and the fact that it flowers! And we also adore the Golden Gate Peperomia for its white + green leaves. Bonus, these guys purify the air!

HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR PEPEROMIA PLANT: 

Can do well in both medium to bright indirect light and only water when soil is completely dry. 

BEST HOUSE PLANT #5 ELEPHANT EAR

We love the "Alocasia", also called the African Shield Plant for its deep green leaves and striking white veins. This plant adds some dramatic flair to the simplest planter, in our case, this blush pink/peach one. 

HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR ELEPHANT EAR PLANT: 

Loves warmth and humidity, let soil dry through the top inch before watering again.

We've all heard about being mindful when spending, especially when it comes to personal purchases. More and more folks are moving away from purchasing things and choosing to invest in experiences instead. And those who are purchasing physical goods are choosing to shop from independent + local businesses. A shift is happening and we really think that in the long run, it's a good thing all around. 

When our community chooses to shop local and allow their money to make a bigger impact, we all feel it. Small businesses thrive off of loyal customers, word of mouth and even the smallest of purchases make a huge impact. Our friends over at Bravely wrote an incredible piece on Values-Based Spending you should check out! 

SPENDING MINDFULLY FOR YOUR SMALL BUSINESS

From a small business perspective and from a business owner's standpoint, learning to really know your money is so crucial in growing a thriving business. You can't be afraid of your bank account, and not know where your money is going. That's the quickest way to find yourself in a cash flow problem. We highly, highly recommend reading Profit First, whether you're just about to launch a business or you're in your 5th year of business. It's been vital in taking The Paper + Craft Pantry into it's most profitable year yet. 

According to research, 8 out of 10 businesses fail within the first 18 months. And though reasons vary, the root of it can probably be traced back to how the business was operating from the back end and how whoever was running the business was managing money. Through a lot, and we mean a lot, of trial and error (events that weren't successful, hiring and firing, misreading product trends etc.) we're still continuing to learn and navigate the world of small business. But we have learned some truly valuable lessons that we want to share with you! 

Here are the top three things to consider before spending for your business. 

Pay yourself, you're the most important part of your small business!

Number one of this list is PAY YOURSELF. A lot, and we mean a lot, of small business owners don't pay themselves. Take a moment to gasp. 

Even if it's a small amount, do it from the start, do it now and do it regularly. Some small business owners pay themselves a percentage of revenue monthly, some do a set dollar amount. Some do a monthly owners draw and some do it bi-monthly. Whatever the case, just do it. 

Can you operate your small business with less? 

One of the key take aways in Profit First was the fact that if you could hypothetically run your business for $1000 a month, you could run it for $999 a month. Save a dollar. Then the next month, try running your business for $998 and so forth. You get the point? Cut your expenses down to what you really need? Do you really need that fancy office? Do you really need that expensive new printer or will your current one do fine for now? 

Put money where it matters most in your small business.

Identify what your business does well. Invest your time, energy and money into that and do it well. By not spreading yourself and your funds too thin, you're able to really hone in on what makes your business stand out and different from other businesses. 

Whether you celebrate Valentine's or not, we'd be lying if we said we don't love any excuse to go overboard with glitter, pink and all things girly! We've rounded up the best last minute Valentine's + Galentine's themed Do-It-Yourself projects on the web just for you to crafty this week! 

FELT HEART TASSELS

We're all about these adorable felt tassel charms that would be so cute hanging on a door knob or just on a wall! These would also be really cute as a gift wrapping embellishment! 

Photo by: Studio DIY

HEART DONUTS

If you've got a sweet tooth like we do, then this D.I.Y. project is for you! Just look at how cute these donuts are, dare we say even cuter than normal donuts just because they're heart shaped? 

Photo credit: Aww Sam

COLORFUL HEART THROW PILLOW

Kara is one of our favorite local D.I.Y. bloggers for so many reasons not limited to the fact she's the sweetest soul ever, and her love of COLOR! These gradient pillows are so cute and add that holiday pop of color! 

Photo Credit: A Kailo Chic Life

GIANT CHOCOLATE GIFT BOXES

Looking to add some F-U-N to your gift giving for Valentine's or really any day? We're so in love with this fun idea of turning gift boxes into giant chocolates! They'er all so adorable but we may be partial to the one with sprinkles :) 

Photo Credit: Lovely Indeed

CONVERSATION HEART PET TOY

Did you think we would forget about your fur babies this Valentine's? These are such a cute way to get your pup or cat in the spirit of love! 

Photo Credit: A Beautiful Mess

GLITTER CONFETTI TUMBLER

An oldie we dug up from last year because we loved it so much! No better way to hydrate throughout the workday than in the most fun tumbler filled with all the glitter and confetti! 

Once a year, we host an extra special workshop in our studio for Galentine's Day because we feel like it's so important to celebrate sisterhood and women owned businesses! And also partially because we love any excuse to throw a fun craft party! 

We've hosted over 50+ women for this special class over the past two years and are just days away from our third Galentine's Craft Party! What makes this particular workshop so special? Besides surprise D.I.Y.s, and fun treats, our attendees receive one heck of a goody bag sponsored by some of the very best, women owned businesses we know and love. 

The talents of these women never ceases to amaze us, from their evolving product line to incredible design, and how they inspire us every single day to do what we love. 

And this year, although our workshop sold out in record time and we know some of you feel like you missed out, don't fret! We're giving you a peek ahead at what you can find inside these goody bags so you too, can treat yourself (or your best gal pal) this Galentine's!

LATIKA SOAP 

It just takes one look at Latika's bath bombs for us to day dream of some self care time unwinding in the bath. You're going to have a hard time figuring out which scent is your favorite since they're all incredible! p.s. Latika only uses the highest quality oils and ingredients in all of their products so no need to worry about artificial additives! Our current favorite bath bomb scents are relaxing and fun but we can't wait to try this one next!

HERLAND HOME

We don't know about you, but we're huge fans of candles. And consider ourselves self-proclaimed candle experts :) So naturally we were blown away when we found out that these beautiful candles were made with coconut wax and not the other traditional waxes used in most candles. Besides their unique wax, we can't even begin to tell you how incredible Priscilla's scent combinations are. Our current favorite is a tie between this warm scent and this dreamy scent. 

SHAWNA SMYTH STUDIO

If you don't already know of Shawna, you're going to want to give this talented North Texas gal a follow. We're partial to her incredible talents with her hand lettering as well as her love for turning her love of cats into the cutest stationery and pins! 

TEDDY V. PATISSERIE 

Y'all, Elisia makes hands-down, the very best chocolate chip cookies in the entire state. Maybe even the entire world. It's times like these we love that everything is bigger in Texas because these cookies are gigantic + delicious. She even has a gluten free version with walnuts! You can place an order for pick up or delivery in Austin! 

SWEET ELISE

We were smitten the moment we came across Sweet Elise, a home based bakery serving up some adorable decorated cookies! Just take a peek at their Instagram and get ready to get a very real sugar craving! You can place your order with your choice of cookies, cakes, mini deserts and cupcakes! 

KATIE MADE THAT

We first met Katie when she joined us for one of the biggest markets and events we host in our studio. Not only is she one of the kindest souls you will ever meet, but she's one seriously talented gal! From impeccably designed stationery to gorgeous art prints, there's not much this girl can't do! We personally have this print but have also been eyeing this one (and this one too!)

RUST AND PEARLS 

There's nothing we love more than supporting fellow women business owners, and it's just an added bonus that the gal behind Rust and Pearls is one of the best people we know! She has an eye for designing some of the best jewelry pieces using designs that are timeless and wearable for every day. Did we also mention that her jewelry is incredibly accessible and won't break the bank? So treat yourself this Valentines to something you'll have in your accessory wardrobe for years to come! 

PINK CHAMPAGNE PAPER

Not only is Kelly one of the best wedding invitation designers out there, she's also the queen of calligraphy and lettering! Kelly has been one of our in-house calligraphy workshop instructors for over a year and we just love having her share her talents with our community! If you're ever in the need of all things invitations, she's your gal! 

In case you missed it, we read The Little Book of Hygge back in November for our studio's book club. It was THAT good we are actually reading his second book The Little Book of Lykke for our first book club meeting of the year that's happening this month! 

For those of you who may not know what Hygge is,  we thought it was a funky name for a piece of Ikea furniture at first too! Hygge is pronounced "hoo-ga" and has been defined as "coziness of the soul", "taking pleasure from the presence of soothing things", and "cozy togetherness".

In a world that glorifies busyness, and where everything happens so fast, the idea of Hygge really struck a cord with us and we were intrigued with how we could apply some Hygge to not only our personal life, but to add some hygge for your business as well. We're sharing some of our best practices for incorporating this feeling of cozy into our every day both at home and at work. And we're also sharing a fun collaboration we worked on that is inspired by this whole idea of hygge below!

3 HYGGE TIPS FOR OUR HOME

• Candles:

The number one thing you need to create that feeling of hygge. Instead of saving that coveted candle you were gifted, indulge and light it (and enjoy)! 

• Create a nook:

Channel all things cozy, your favorite blanket, a mug of your favorite tea, that handmade bud vase from a local maker, this spot can become your refuge!

• Treat yourself:

We love that the Danes are so great at not letting an association of guilt accompany a little indulgence. Keep a bar of your favorite chocolate in your pantry and enjoy a piece when you want!

3 HYGGE TIPS FOR OUR BUSINESS

• Candles:

Noticing a trend here? During the weekends and during workshops we keep a candle burning. A combination of fresh flowers, fresh candle and essential oil mist keeps our shop + studio smelling cozy and inviting! 

• Slowing down:

We want guests in our shop to feel comfortable slowing down when they come in our door. Giving them the space and time to browse through our shelves while taking a moment for themselves! We encourage folks to take their time to find that perfect card, or to pick out that special gift their looking for. 

• Business as a home:

We treat our brick and mortar like it's our home! When someone walks in the door, they're not a customer but rather a guest in our "home". We love genuinely connecting with our community that comes in and truly love that first timers always become regulars! 

We're committed to adding a bit of hygge into our every day! If you are too, you're going to definitely want to pick up this book, and this one too. While you're at it, you're probably going to need this candle (or this one) and probably add to your sock collection! Our friend Denise with Love Ding also shares all about hygge on her blog here where you can find even more downloadable and has a very hygge inspired DIY we cannot wait to try! 

Want a daily reminder of hygge?

Check out our favorites from our collaboration with Love Ding for downloadable desktop and phone background pattern play inspired by all things cozy! 

HYGGE INSPIRED

DESKTOP DOWNLOADABLES

HYGGE INSPIRED

PHONE SCREENSAVER DOWNLOADABLES

How has everyone week been? It's been finally warming up here in Austin and we couldn't be happier. Let's just say, having an official "snow" day last week through our schedules for a loop! And also, Texans just can't deal with that kind of cold. 

We've gotten a ton of messages and questions from you guys about what some of our favorite planners are. Although we carry a very small selection of planners that are undated (because they're so seasonal, we don't stock a ton of planners for just that reason), we definitely can point you in the direction of some of our personal favorites :) 

There truly are so many options out there, that we really do believe there is the "one" out there for you regardless of budget or interior content you are looking for your planner to have. Some people love having a ton of structure, space for to-dos, lovely quotes while some just want to create their own lay out with a bullet journal. 

These are our top picks for 2018 if you're still on the market for a planner, or just save this info for the next year! 

1. CUSTOM AGENDA - GOLDEN COIL

Meet:

The planner that has, literally, anything you want. 

Why we love it:

There are loads of customizable planners and agenda companies out there, but Golden Coil stands out to us because it's truly one of the easiest to navigate to create the planner of your dreams. You choose your start and end date, can even upload events and holidays to be printed on the pages that may not be the traditional holidays on most calendars, choose from several vertical and horizontal layouts, additional pages that can help track your budget or even meal plan, project planning pages... do we need to say more? 

Definitely our top pick for the custom agenda + planner of your dreams! 

2. 2018 CLASSIC CHIP BOARD - GET TO WORK BOOK

Meet:

The planner that doubles as your daily motivator.

Why we love it: 

We love the monthly overviews and the beautiful typography quotes on the first tab of each month. These aren't your average inspirational quotes, they are real, powerful and meaningful. The minimally designed pages inside has tasks sections for you to customize week to week, a graph note section on the bottom for notes or project tracking as well. 

3. DATELESS FOIL PLANNER - CLAP CLAP

Meet:

The planner you're not going to want to put down. Seriously.

Why we love it: 

We're not joking when we say this is the softest + smoothest planner cover we've ever laid our hands on. Not to mention the pops of gold foil accents, this planner adds a tiny bit of flair to any desk. This is a dateless planner, which means you have to fill in the months + dates on the pages - and we love this because you can start using your planner at any point you choose! This planner is filled with weekly, monthly and yearly pages plus an additional 58 grid pages for all your note taking needs. 

4. 2018 SIGNATURE AGENDA - SUGAR PAPER

Meet:

The planner that is classic, simple and a tried & true workhorse. 

Why we love it: 

If you're looking for something a little more traditional, this planner is it! With a monthly over view that's broken down into weeks and a simple notes + don't forget section with each week, this planner makes simplicity elegant and timeless. The linen chambray cover feels luxurious and is understated. And we love the subtle hint of blush cotton ribbon as page markers! 

5. DESIRE MAP PLANNER - DANIELLE LAPORTE

Meet:

The planner that checks in with you weekly to keep you on track.

Why we love it: 

Each month starts with a core check-in, prompting you to check-in with how you are feeling to set up for the upcoming month. These are broken down further weekly with sections like "3 things", "stop doing", "want to change" and "gratitude". There's no better accountability buddy than this planner if your goal this year is to commit to trusting your gut and aligning your actions with your feelings! 

6. DOT GRID JOURNAL - ARCHER & OLIVE

Meet:

The planner that is your blank canvas, ready for you to turn it into your masterpiece. 

Why we love it: 

This is the dot grid journal you've been looking for! With extra thick pages, your favorite pens + markers won't bleed through - they're even thick enough for you to paint on! If you're not sure what dot grid journaling is, don't say we didn't warn you about the Pandora's box you are about to open. It's so incredible how people have turned dot grid pages into the most magnificent planners, weekly trackers and so much more! Bonus? This journal has a pocket on the back that's perfect for keeping your bits & bobs!