Start a local newspaper
When your small-ish town has no local news, start your own paper. I started the Easton Observer in May and we just published issue no. 3 We have a great group of local reporters who cover civic happenings at town hall and some really lovely culture features. This issue highlights our fireman’s carnival in its 85th year. Fun fact: there are no printing presses in the entire state of Connecticut so we use one in Massachusetts.
Drink free wine out of ketchup cups
A kind gentleman asked us if we wanted half a bottle of Whispering Angel to go with our clams. Paralyzed with anxiety about asking the very busy fish market employees for cups, I quickly grabbed some of these from the condiment area.
Jacki Holland jewelry
Jacki is an amazingly talented St. Louis-based artist who makes stunning custom pieces and does seasonal drops. She made a bracelet for my wedding and as you can see, I’m hooked. There’s something really special about cultivating a collection from an artist you majorly fw.
Video game soundtracks for productivity
I read somewhere that video game soundtracks are meant to not be super distracting like regular music. I throw on the soundtrack of a game I like when I’m trying to get in the zone at work and it really helps. Also for some reason the genre of music called “shoegaze” has a similar effect.