I’m Abby, the creative and passionate heart behind raindrop paperie, a handmade greeting cards and paper goods company based out of Minneapolis, MN. As a lover of snail mail my entire life, I value sending and receiving handwritten notes and letters more than most things in life. Being creative has always been a part of my life and raindrop paperie was born from a dream of creating beautiful, handmade cards and a passion for everything paper.
When I’m not surrounded by stacks and stacks of paper I enjoy spending time with my boyfriend and our English Bull Terrier, Frankie. Family and friends are truly special to me and I’m always up for a coffee date at one of the many fabulous coffee shops located throughout the Twin Cities. I love a good walk around a lake, a visit to one of the local art museums and nights out on the patio during the summer.
How do you take care of yourself so that you’re physically and mentally prepared to be your best self for others?
I think it’s important to take care of yourself inside and out, and for me that includes a couple of things. Setting aside time for myself each and every day is really important, whether it’s a morning walk or time before bed reading/writing/relaxing.
I’m a huge planner, so to decrease my stress in the mornings I make sure everything is laid out the night before: outfit, lunches, espresso machine ready to go, bag packed. These small steps allow me to have a calmer morning. I also work to eat a balanced diet and work in at least one green juice a day (currently loving the combo of green apples, cucumber, lemon, ginger, celery, and kale.)
What’s your favorite beauty secret?
Water! Hands down, I can’t stress enough how important it is to drink water. Water not only helps my skin stay hydrated, but overall makes me feel more energetic and ready to tackle whatever the day throws at me. I have a pretty minimal skin care routine and am loving Clinique’s Rinse-Off Foaming Cleanser and Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion.
What’s your favorite go-to outfit for a quick polished look?
I absolutely love dresses and tend to pick ones with a fun pattern! A dress paired with a fun necklace, some cute sandals and a little lipstick and I’m ready for a morning coffee date with a friend or a night out with my boyfriend.
What’s your favorite quick-prep dinner for your family?
>Pasta is a staple in our household, but I love to mix it up. My favorite go-to meal right now is whole wheat pasta, a little pesto, some garlic, zucchini, and tomatoes. Mix it all together and before serving top with a little bit of Parmesan cheese. Yum!
Tell us your favorite Instagram account to follow and why?
Oh goodness, there are so many! But I love @pantone and @minted!
What tradition or routine is important to you?
Celebrating birthdays and holidays has always been an important part of my life. I think there’s truly something special about sending loved ones birthday cards, baking cookies with family members or getting together for a meal. Those are the times when memories are made.
What’s in your purse?
Lots and lots of pens and markers, my Simplified Planner, a little notebook for writing down lists and ideas, a few different lip colors (currently a mix of Aveda and Clinique), sunglasses, keys, my wallet, a whole mess of receipts, a sheet of stamps, some notecards and envelopes, and a pack of tissues.
Where do you find your inspiration?
Everywhere – magazines, walking down the street, looking at paint swatches at home improvement stores. My designs are based on mixing colors and patterns to create fun and classic cards, so any type of visual inspiration helps me when creating my product.
We know you’re a busy lady! How do you balance all of your work responsibilities with your home and personal life? Any tips for our readers?
So much of it really comes down to planning. Early on in the year I mark all birthdays, holidays, festivals, and days off in my planner so that I can easily plan my weeks as they come along without missing out on something special. Every night I plan for the day ahead so that I can wake up and be ready to face anything that comes across my desk. But the main thing is to not get stressed if something doesn’t go as planned – be spontaneous and go with the flow as much as possible, enjoy the small joys of everyday.
What’s your favorite app (or other tool) for helping you do life?
Google Apps, is the central hub for all things related to my business and personal life. I have my email, my calendar, documents, spreadsheets, and contacts all in one account to easily access.
