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SHOW YOU CARE

4.28.2020

We’re all missing our family, friends and loved ones right now. Staying at home has become a new kind of normal. Working in our Pjs, streaming Tiger King, zooming with our besties, contemplating spring cleaning (but let’s face it, not getting much done!) and googling how to make banana bread: we’re all in this together. We’re cooking, painting, puzzling, crafting. Here at Elūm we’re writing. Like you, we can’t see our grandparents, our moms and dads, our brothers and sisters. We can’t be with our squad so we’re writing to them—real notes with paper and ink—to let them know we’re thinking about them. We’re staying connected. Old school.

The US Post is an essential service. Thanks to the dedicated and hardworking staff at USPS we can still send and receive mail. They’re giving us the opportunity to reach out to fam and friends in a meaningful and lasting way. When everything gets back to normal, it’s the note your daughter sent to Grandma that will be remembered. The card you sent to a coworker saying, “Hang on in there, sister. We’ll get through this together” and the letter you sent to your favorite teacher saying, “I always wanted to let you know what a difference you made in my life” that will be treasured as keepsakes. There’s never been a more important time to show we care that’s why we’ve put together some of our best ideas for staying connected while staying at home.

We’re not in high-school anymore. Thank heavens! No one is going to judge our handwriting, composition or grammar. As Shakespeare said, “Tis better to have written and misspelled than never written at all.” Or something like that! If you’re worried about making mistakes when you’re handwriting a note, type the text on your phone or laptop first. That way you can switch it around, edit it, and check for spelling and grammar before putting pen to paper. If you do make a mistake, don’t abandon the note, cross out the error, bless it with a smiley emoji, and move on. Our loved ones already know we’re not perfect: we’re not fooling anyone! #ToErrIsHuman

Put yourself on the page. Write like you speak so when your recipient reads your note he or she can hear your voice in their head. We’re not saying drop the F bomb on granny, but if you’re writing to a girlfriend to let her know how much you’re missing her, it’s okay to write,

“Going cray cray here without you, babe. Happy Hour is Sad Hour without my bestie stealing my wine & fries!”

Be yourself and speak from the heart and your words will always come out right. #NoOneExactlyLikeYou

More Hobbit, less Lord of the Rings. No one likes staring at a blank page knowing they’re going to have to fill it with words. A long letter can be intimidating both to the writer and recipient which is why we like cards and mini notes so much. A greeting, a couple of sentences, a signature and the page is full and we’re done. We don’t need to write a three book trilogy to show we care. “Dan, We’re so glad to hear your father’s getting better. We met him at the bbq last summer. He told the best stories about you as a kid! Love to you and Ash.” The value of a letter doesn’t lie in its word count. It lies in the fact that someone cares enough about you to take the time to write a note. #BigIsNotAlwaysBetter

Kids Play. If you have kids running around while you’re reading this we heart you! Suddenly we’ve turned into home-schooling, daycare providing, lunch ladying, backyard coaching multi-taskers. We’re doing it all. Dinners may have been burned! Corners may have been cut, but let’s cut ourselves some slack too. One of the best things we can teach our kids is gratitude. Recognizing the things we’re thankful for is a blessing and a skill that lasts a lifetime. Fill the kitchen table with colored crayons, stickers, glitter and glue (we never promised it wouldn’t get messy!) and a box of our Old School Notes and ask the kids who they’re missing and would like to write to. Let them sign a “Miss you, Grandpa” note with a thumbprint of glitter, draw pictures of the cat on the note to their favorite teacher, and write “A Big Thank You!” to local hospital workers in an entire rainbow of colors. #KidsSpreadingSunshine

Think inside the box. If you’re sending a note to your parents, why not print out a photo of you and the kids and slip it inside the envelope? Send a homemade coupon promising the bearer, “One home-cooked meal and epic catch up sesh.” Include a packet of seeds with a note saying, “We may be apart but we’ll always grow together.” Get creative. Include a self addressed stamped envelope and write in very small letters, “Just in case you were thinking of writing back?”.  #NoExcuses

Who doesn’t love receiving a letter in the post? The stamp, the handwritten address, the matching paper and envelope? It’s magical. We have a lot to be thankful for here at Elūm. We’re grateful to first responders, healthcare workers and everyone who works in essential services. We’re grateful for teachers who are working hard to provide online schooling for our kids. We’re grateful for our families and friends and miss them very much. We have a lot of notes to write. What about you? Who are you writing to?

Anniversary Milestone GIfting Part II

3.13.2020

Quick quiz. If you receive an emerald necklace from the hubs on your anniversary how long have you been married?

A. Fifty-five years
B. Twenty-five years
C. Fifteen years

If you answered a) Fifty-five years you are correct. However, we checked and no one here would complain if we received an emerald necklace before the half century mark! #NoWrongTimeForEmeralds. Welcome to our Anniversary Gifting Guide, Part 2. Need some ideas about what to give your bae on the big day? We are professional celebrationistas here at Elūm and we’re here to help! Read on to see how were surprising our spouses this year.

 

Ten Year, Tin – Congratulations on reaching your first decade as a married couple!

You guys are doing something right. You’re learning and growing together, building a family and working toward a shared vision for the future. Like a good marriage tin is stable, flexible and grows better with age. Tin is also pretty useful, but we’re not about to suggest you give your spouse a muffin tin, a cheese grater or soldering iron. Not if you want to reach year eleven, that is!  When polished, tin becomes very shiny and as Lizzo says, “If I’m shinin’, everybody gonna shine.” Shine some tin love on your partner with delicious chocolates presented in a collectible tin box, arrange a weekend stay in a classic tin-roofed cottage, and stream the hot and steamy classic Cat On A Hot Tin Roof while you listen to the rain fall. #TinSorted

 

Twelve, Silk – You’re into your second decade. Kids, house, career: you’ve got this! 

Silk is all about luxury. Spoil yourself for your twelfth wedding anniversary. Turn your bedroom into a boudoir with ivory silk sheets, a champagne silk robe and a heart-achingly romantic silk roadmap showing the exact location of where you first met. We are swooning over this love map. Swooning! Seriously, where did you two meet? #RoadToLove 

 

Thirteen, Lace – It must be the spring air around here.

How else can we account for our current obsession with naughty British lingerie? Congratulations on your thirteenth anniversary! Gifts of beautiful and intricate lace traditionally celebrate your big day. Lace is created by weaving delicate threads together over time to produce something magical. Sounds like a pretty good definition of marriage to us! Celebrate with a his-and-her gift of a risque lace corset, a batch of freshly baked and decadent lace cookies, and a week long vacay to the world’s capital of lacemaking Bruges, Belgium. #LuckyThirteen

 

Fifteen, Crystal – Crystals are formed under pressure over decades, often centuries.

Like a fifteen year marriage they are precious, unique, and can’t be made overnight. We’re recommending you give your wife a beautiful ocean-blue Swarovksi crystal necklace and whisk her away to the Bahamas where you can visit the exquisite Crystal Caves. And for him? A bottle of vintage Cristal Champagne of course! #NeverSaidWeCouldSpell

 

Twenty,  Porcelain – We admit it, we struggled with this one.

If you’ve been married twenty years we believe you deserve something better than a teacup! Then we remembered that after twenty years you’ve not just built a marriage and a family, you’ve built a home. Porcelain is all about celebrating the home you’ve made together. Bring something beautiful into it with a gilded gardenia, a rose petal vase and one of our most beloved and romantic cards, the weeping willow of hearts.

 

Twenty Five, Silver

If you’ve been married for twenty-five years you’ve built a lot of great memories together. Let the gift of silver be a chance to create some more. Gift yourselves with a rooftop tent and a couple of weeks with no plans or itinerary. Let the open road be your guide. Give her something exquisite where she can keep a special photo next to her heart. And give him a night he’ll never forget by dressing in intoxicating silver. #SilverFoxAllTheWay

 

Thirty, Pearl – Congratulations on reaching Year 30! 

Spending three amazing decades together deserves to be celebrated in style. It’s time to push out the boat with a big pearl-themed blowout!  A breathtakingly lovely pair of pearl earrings, an international bestseller to read on the plane, and two tickets to The Hague, Holland, to wine and dine in this beautiful and historic city, and see Girl With The Pearl Earring by Vermeer in person. #PearlWhirl

 

Forty, Fifty, Sixty, Ruby, Gold, Diamond – What can we say? You have achieved what most of us dream of in our heart of hearts: a long and successful marriage.

Congratulations! You are our heroes. You deserve to be showered in love and celebrated! A beautiful piece of jewelry is a lasting way to honor the life you’ve built together, but we’d also like to suggest you throw the mother-of-all parties too. Kids, grandkids, family, friends: everyone you love gathered in one spot, celebrating the life you and your spouse have created. A fizzy card, some fun balloons, a little bling: you know the deal. You guys wrote the book on it! #BookOfLove

If it’s your anniversary this month, congratulations to you and your spouse from our family here at Elūm. We’d love to know how you’re planning to celebrate.

Anniversary Milestone Gifting Guide Part I

3.05.2020

Quick quiz. If a couple have been married for ten years do you gift them with:

A. a wood salad bowl
B. a wool blanket
C. a set of baking tins

Congratulations if you answered c, a set of baking tins! A couple’s tenth wedding anniversary is traditionally celebrated with gifts of tin. The wood bowl would be gifted to a couple hitting the five year mark and the wool blanket at seven years. It gets confusing pretty quickly. US couples married for eight years traditionally receive the gift of copper while British couples receive salt (here’s hoping it’s the fancy pink Himalayan kind!). It started us thinking. What should we give our spouses this year on our anniversaries? Milestones in marriage deserve to be celebrated. They represent shared laughter, shared tears, shared responsibilities and shared respect. Finances. In-laws. A new house. Kids. Marriages come with equal amounts of rewards and challenges. Honoring those challenges and celebrating those highs means a lot to us at Elūm, it’s why we created our Anniversary Gifting Guide. Read on to see what we’re gifting our spouses and loves ones on their special days this year.

 

One Year, Paper – You know this is our favorite anniversary, right?

It’s no secret we love paper products, celebrations and weddings. Combining all three is about as good as it gets round here! Celebrate your first wedding anniversary with a card that promises more adventures to come, a notepad that encourages you and your partner to share your dreams, and a ticket to a destination jazz festival. It’s amazing how far a humble piece of paper can take you. A picnic lunch on the lawn, a bottle of wine and Norah Jones at the piano singing love songs. We’re down with that! #ElumPaperLove 

 

Three Year, Leather – Hell yeah, we’re going there!

A gift for her, a gift for him, and a gift for both of you! You’ve reached the three year mark, you’re getting the hang of this married thing. You’re a team. And we all know the team that plays together stays together. Under no circumstance give your spouse a leather nut tray (yeah, it’s totally a thing) or key ring. Give them a stunning leather and coral bracelet, a luxe handmade credit card holder, and this saucy leather lingerie set from England. Nothing like a little red leather to help you reach year five!

 

Five Year, Wood – You can’t build a house without wood.

It’s the foundation and framework on which everything else rests. After five years of changing and growing together, of grocery shopping, cooking dinners, resolving disputes and sharing dreams you have that foundation. Spoil your spouse by planning a weekend getaway in a log cabin (built from yours truly, of course), bring cheese and wine and a personalized picnic table engraved with your wedding date, and a box of naughty jenga for those long nights in front of the fire with no TV. Yep, our minds are still there! #DontKnowWhatsGotIntoUs 

 

Six Year, Iron & Sugar – We love a little sugar around here!

You know we’re going to include the UK tradition along with the US tradition on this one! Without molten iron at the earth’s core our compasses would not point true North and the most precious and unique feature of our planet—its atmosphere—would cease to exist. Iron, like a six year anniversary, is a pretty big deal. And without sugar, cookies, cupcakes and the world’s best cocktails would never have happened. We need both sugar and iron to thrive. If you’ve achieved six years of marriage, you know and respect one another. You’re looking at the long game. For your sixth year anniversary take your man for a world class steak (rich in iron, of course). Whisk your wife to Paris to enjoy the best desserts in the world at Pain De Sucre (Sugar Loaf in English), or stay home and buy a cast iron skillet and make a deep-dish chocolate chip cookie. Together you are sugar and iron! #Sweet&Strong

 

Seven Year, Wool – Because well, who wouldn’t love a nice cashmere sweater?

Wool is one of the world’s most resilient fabrics. It’s strong, insulating, resilient and flexible. If that’s not a formula for a long marriage we don’t know what is! We love wool because it’s a renewable and cruelty-free resource. And because we adore newborn lambs.  After seven years you’re heading toward your first decade as a married couple. You’ve overcome obstacles and setbacks and stuck together through thick and thin. You deserve a hug. Give yourself a warm and fluffy one with an heirloom Pendleton blanket. Treat your sweetie to a once-in-a-lifetime trip to New Zealand (we hear they have a whole lot of sheep there), slow down, knit something, drop a few stitches. Get cozy. #NoSevenYearItchHere

 

Check back for our next Anniversary Gifting post where we take it all the way! We’d love to hear how you’re planning to celebrate your next anniversary with your beloved.

Guide to Man-gifting

12.18.2019

Let’s hear it for the boys! We received such a great response from our Girlfriend’s Guide To Gifting we knew we had to turn the tables and tackle Man-Gifting next. We ❤️our guys! Brothers, baes, dads, coworkers, coconspirators and exes who slid into the friend-zone: you are on our Christmas list. We are celebrating the strong, inspiring, smart, funny, goofy, dad-jean-wearing men in our lives with our Elum Guide To Man-Gifting. Read on to discover what we’re giving our guy crew this Holiday Season.

I’m With The Band

He played in a band in college, brings his guitar to backyard bbqs, and has held onto his vinyl record collection for so long that it’s now hip again. He’s our I’m With The Band guy and we love him because he’s a musician and a dreamer and the last of the mix tape makers. We’re giving our music man a Crosley Portable Record Player so he can take the party with him wherever he goes, the gorgeous 10th Anniversary Edition of Led Zeppelin When Giants Walked The Earth, and a little gold dust with our very own California Foil Letterpress Art Print. #LetTheMusicPlay

The Honey Do-er

We all need a Honey Do-er in our lives. Who else is going to help us put up the bathroom shelves, switch out the fan belt in our car and haul eighty pounds of Saltillo tiles from the hardware store? We may know our way around a fuse box here at Elum but it doesn’t stop us appreciating the Honey Do-ers in our lives. This year we’re giving them the Find Your Lost Keys Bluetooth Keychain, our Naughty But Nice Big Stick Note Bar and a Magnogrip Magnetic Wristband. He’ll never lose a key, an idea or screw ever again! #TripleWin

Top Chef

We love our Chef because he feeds us! Sunday morning will find him at the farmer’s market talking hot sauce with local producers. Sunday evening will find him putting that hot sauce to good use in his made-from-scratch chili rellenos. The Chef knows that eggplant is called aubergine in England and the real way to a girl’s heart is through her taste buds. This year we are gifting our Chef with a bar of steel soap (to remove the smell of chopped onions from his hands), his very own Nanopresso Portable Expresso Maker and our Hello Sunshine Mug. What’s for dinner, hon?

The Player

Cause the player’s gonna play…his Xbox. Or Sony Playstation or Nintendo Switch. We all know a Player, right? It’s the weekend and he’s on the couch. Family size bag of Cheetos, comfy pants, Call of Duty on the console: the Player is in the zone. We love our Player because we always know where he is on Friday nights and if we ever get lost in an underground maze he’s the one who will find the way out! We are lighting up our Players this Christmas with the Pac-Man Ghost Lamp. And we are on top of our Player’s birthday in 2020 when we plan on giving him the amazing hand-cranked handheld Playdate accompanied by our adorable Gamer Birthday Card. #LeveledUp

Metro Man

Is there premium brand moisturizer in his bathroom cabinet? Is that bathroom cabinet located in a chic downtown loft? If you answer yes to both questions chances are you have a Metro Man on your hands. We love our Metro Men because they always know the hottest rez for cocktails and apps, appreciate us in our little black dresses, and can talk about anything from European economic policy to the best strain of hops for IPAs. Man smells good, looks good and talks good. We’re gifting him with one of our Greeting Card Subscriptions because you know he likes to keep on top of birthdays and celebrations, a bottle of ten year Talisker Whiskey because single malt is where it’s at, baby, and an ultra cool urban backpack.

Dad

No one loves you like your Dad. He cheered you through all your soccer matches and gave the world’s most effective stink eye to your prom date. You’ll always be his princess and he’ll always be your dad. We know if we ask Dad what he wants for Christmas or Hanukkah he’ll say, “Nothing. You being here is enough.” but we’re rolling the ball anyway! We’re keeping it simple, delicious and heartfelt. We’re giving him Goldbelly’s famous BBQ Box Subscription so he can have his #1 favorite food throughout the year, a monthly membership to the Beer Club and our Louie Award Winning You’re All That Card because Dad. Is. All. That. #LoveYouPops

 


Happy Holidays to the incredible supportive and inspiring men in our lives. Our Elum family wishes your family the warmest, snowiest, coziest, most wonderful Christmas ever. See you in 2020! Love, Elum. XXX

Girlfriend’s Guide To Gifting

12.16.2019

The Holiday Season is in full swing. We are eggnogging and tree-trimming, decking the halls and making merry under the mistletoe. Our Holiday goals are sorted. Our gingerbread house is open for business, our ugly Christmas sweaters are good to go and we have enough Bailey’s Irish Cream to float a boat. The only thing left on our Christmas List is Holiday gifting. We’re Elum and gift giving is our name and gift wrapping is our game. So we put our heads together and came up with our Girlfriend’s Guide To Gifting. Sister a princess? We’ve got you covered. Bestie never leaves the house without her selfie stick? We know exactly what she needs! We believe in celebrating the powerful, amazing, funny and unique women in our lives. Read on to see what we’re giving our girl crew this season.

Instagal

We all know this girl. She’s the one who makes us wait to eat our appetizers until she’s taken the perfect foodporn pic. If you tease her about over-sharing, she’ll start counting out loud on her fingers. “Moonstruck, Burlesque, Witches of Eastwick. You’re right I have been watching too much Cher.” We love our Instagal because she believes everyone has the right to be Photoshopped and is smart enough to know her own worth. Light up her life with a Fotodiox Selfie Vlog Pro Ring Light and help her coffee stay as social as her media with our adorable Doggie Social Ceramic Mug.

Bougie Babe

Uptown girl living in an uptown world? We know a couple of those! We love our Bougie Babes because when they receive invites to the best places in town they let us tag along. And if you happen to be in her bedroom when a Bougie Babe is clearing out her closest she’ll think nothing of giving you some TLC (Tom Ford, Louboutin, Chanel). Help your girl stay on point with our luxe and blingy Go Get ‘Em Tiger List Pad and her very own Bougie Babe Tee.

Homegirl

There’s no place like home. Who needs to go out when you can Doordash, Netflix and chill? We love our homies because PJs are their dress code and they never say no to wine in a box. Our Homegirls remind us to keep things simple in an increasingly cray-cray world. Help your Homegirl get her cozy on with an extra fluffy throw blanket and our beautiful Floral Lustre Exposed Bound Journal. A cup of hot chocolate, White Christmas on her playlist, and she’s good to go.

The Foodie

If it wasn’t for our foodie friends we would never have tried sous vide steak sashimi or made our very own radish kimchi. The Foodie always knows the chef at the hottest pop-up restaurant, and can tell us instantly what wine to serve with our chicken enchiladas (Champagne, who knew?) and why our cookies turned out so dry (too long in the oven, duh!). As Julia Child once said, “People who love to eat are the best people.” We love our foodies and plan on keeping them happy this Hanukkah with the one and only Sriracha Keychain and our Subtle Gems Weekly Eats.

Earth Mamma

No one gives hugs like Earth Mamma. You cannot leave her house without a week’s supply of chicken soup and some homegrown truths about the guy who ghosted you on Snapchat. She burned sage to purify your college dorm room after your toxic roomie moved out, and believes in you like no one else. We’re giving the Earth Mammas in our lives our Greeting Card Subscription Boxes this Christmas. They love celebrating others and we love celebrating them! #WinWin Click here to learn more about our greeting card subscription service!

Crafty Chick

She knits, she scrapbooks, she upholsters her own furniture: she’s the Crafty Chick and if you ever need help stenciling your dining room walls or building a shadow box to house your Backstreet Boys memorabilia she’s there with her paintbrush and tools. Girl knows how to get things done! Our Crafty Chick is a maker at heart so gift her with a charming Bees & Wildflowers Embroidery Kit and our Hi Daisy Iron On Patches. Let’s give her something to do!

Gym Bunny

She’s the one who phones us at 6am on Thanksgiving morning. “Meet me at the gym in ten. Let’s get proactive with the stuffing and gravy.” Our Gym Bunny goes everywhere in athleisure wear and will never take an elevator when a perfectly good staircase will do. We love her because she helps keeps us motivated and her butt in skinny jeans is our #1 body goal. The Fitbit Inspire in lilac will keep her looking snatched on her morning run and our Empowered Women Letterpress Art Print will let her know she inspires us every day. #YouGoGirl


Happy Holidays from all the girls (and guys!) at Elum. Here’s to friendship and family, good times and real connections, and to taking every opportunity to celebrate the strong and inspiring women in our lives.

Summer Birthday

6.27.2019

Drowsy days by the pool, hot dogs and lemonade at the ballpark, sunburn and sandy feet at the beach: Summer is officially here! Over the next three months these lazy, hazy days will be filled with the birthdays of people we care about and love. Cancer, Leo and Virgo: you are the signs of Summer. Born on dew-drenched mornings, white hot afternoons and sultry nights, Summer babies we heart you! You are water, fire and earth. Your special day is approaching and we’ve got your friends and loved ones covered with our Summer Birthday Card Guide. Let’s take a look at your stars and match them with a few of our own!

CANCER
June 21 – July 22

Ruled by the moon, drawn to water, creative, tenacious and deeply loving, Cancers are the nurturers of the zodiac. Family and home is everything. You are loyal and giving and sometimes generous to a fault. If you’re hurt you withdraw into that world famous shell. Summer will find you at the beach, with warm sand beneath your feet and waves tickling your toes. Your horoscope promises a summer of special events, travel and personal growth. An old friend will come back into your life, finally giving you the chance to meet your squad goals. Famous Cancers include Selena Gomez, Ariana Grande and Chris Pratt.

If you’re sending a card to the Cancer in your life, it’s good to remember their ruling color: white. Cancers are healers, gentle-souls and givers. Touch their hearts by sending a simple but beautiful card with a handwritten message inside.

LEO
July 23 – Aug 22

Leos are the best kind of trouble this summer. Passionate, charismatic and playful, you will be first in line to sing karaoke, belly-flop into the pool, and hit the dance floor doing the Triangle. You are the life of the party and the queen (or king) of hearts. Hogging the limelight can be your downfall, and occasionally you need to remind yourself to share it. June and July will find you following your passions: traveling, eating out, and hitting the movies. Your horoscope predicts family love! And if you’re considering shaking up your workout routine, August is a good month to get started. Famous Leos include Demi Lovato, Jennifer Lopez and Barak Obama.

The Leos in our lives crave laughter and fun. Their ruling planet is the sun and their element is fire. You bet we have them covered on their birthdays!

VIRGO
August 23 – September 22nd

With their feet on the ground and their head in the clouds, Virgos are the perfect storm of dreamers and doers. Helpful, kind, thoughtful and modest, you make the kind of friends who want to keep you around for life. You’re stylin’. You organize the most magical parties and love getting lost in a good book. Summer will find you combing flea markets for vintage treasures, hiking nature trails and walking your dog in the park. You’re a perfectionist, which is both your strength and your weakness. Sometimes you work yourself too hard. This summer will bring you closer to your family and present chances for you to heal old wounds. Famous Virgos include Beyonce, Zendaya and Keanu Reeves.

Virgos are drawn to beauty and whimsy, and with Mercury as their ruling planet they’re always looking at the stars. Make their day with a unique birthday card with vintage charm.

Happy Birthday, summer signs! We wish you the most amazing and special day this summer. #zodiaclove We don’t want to forget our fall, winter and spring babies so here’s our quick take on what’s in store for you this summer.

LIBRA. Hang on to your hats, this summer is set to be lit! Expect the unexpected and be prepared to use all of your amazing social skills to get by.

SCORPIO. You sexy Scorpios are on target to have some serious adult fun this summer! Keep an eye on your financials and be sure to invest in some racy lacy lingerie.

SAGITTARIUS. This is your summer of love. Connect more deeply with your partner by planning a special getaway. And if you’re a single Sagittarius, there’s never been a better time to mingle!

CAPRICORN. Smart and sassy Capricorns can expect to go on a journey this summer. Taking time to meet new people along the way will bring surprising delights and some insta-worthy moments.

AQUARIUS. A dynamic new person entering your life will make this summer unforgettable. If you can meet the challenges of the summer and roll with its changes, you’ll emerge stronger than ever in fall.

PISCES. This is a life-changing year for you. Your hard work and dedication is finally paying off. Take time to kick back, hang with your entourage and smell the roses!

ARIES. This is an important summer for someone you care about deeply and you’ll need to support them. You and your bank account can expect some extra love in July.

TAURUS. Exciting changes are coming this summer. Embrace them, but keep the details off social media until you’ve given everyone in your circle the heads up.

GEMINI. This is the summer to chill. Relax and take some well-deserved me time. Recharge your creativity with summer must-reads and day trips with family and friends. A party invite in August is not to be missed!

Whatever your sign have a fire summer! Enjoy the heat, stay cool, and don’t forget to keep those memories alive with our Zodiac Daily Journal (available exclusively at Anthropolgie). #elumzodiac We have all the stars in our eyes!

Elūm’s Holiday Traditions

12.19.2018

We love the Holidays here at Elum. We’re senders of cards and gift givers, candy cane connoisseurs and mistletoe mamas. If someone shouts, “Party!” we’re there. If gift wrapping were a martial art everyone in our office would be ninjas. Black-belted, ninth dan merry-making ninjas! We love sparkles and sprinkles, goofy dancing, questionable holiday sweaters, hats with antlers, Bing Crosby, sugar cookies and hot toddies! More than anything else we love sharing and creating special moments with our friends and families. We’re filled with so much festive spirit right now we gathered the gang together, supplied everyone with rum-soaked eggnog and figgy pudding, and asked about their holiday traditions.

What’s your favorite part of the Holidays?

“Christmas morning is my favorite part of the holidays,” says Kristi C, our creative director. “Seeing my kids’ faces in the morning, so excited that Santa came to visit them. They can’t wait to open up their stockings and gifts.” Jael P, one of our production artists, looks forward to, “Staying in a cabin and heading to a cold place where it snows! Plus it’s the only time of the year when my brother and my dad help in the kitchen!” Tim P, our production designer, says his favorite part is, “Snuggling under warm blankets and watching terrible holiday movies on the Hallmark channel.” Judging from the way everyone is nodding, watching bad movies just might be Elum’s guilty holiday secret! Haley F, our senior designer, sums up the most important thing about the Holidays. “I know it’s cliché but getting to be together with family is by far the best part of the Holidays. I haven’t lived in the same timezone as my family for almost a decade, so when we can manage to all get together—even for just a day—it’s pretty special.”

Do you have any family holiday traditions?

“PJs all day!” declares production artist Mikaela L. Senior designer, Shannon L, keeps the laughter going by telling us, “General consensus in my family is that I’m a terrible cook. I bring the cheese board.” Our warehouse manager, Ryan M, chips in with, “Christmas nights at dive bars!” And Tim shares that universal holiday tradition of, “Getting awkward phone calls to out-of-town family over with by dinner.” Lindsey C in logistics tells us about her grandma. “Every Christmas Eve my grandma will make French onion soup. Christmas Day we will drink a bunch of wine while watching National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. This will be our first year without Grandma and I’m hoping I can pull off the soup as well as she did.” We all agree that simple family traditions, sharing food with loved ones, presents under the tree, are the things that create holiday magic.

What will you be cooking this Christmas?

“Our menu is always a mismatch of childhood favorites and new recipes we want to try,” says Haley. “Nothing says Christmas like pizza rolls and bourbon.” Lindsey tells us about her mom’s, “Roast Beast, which is a giant peppercorn-encrusted prime rib with all the trimmings.” We spend a moment in awe of Lindsey’s mom, then Nancy Z from logistics tells us, “My family loves hot pot during Christmas” and we all decide we’d like that too. And when Jael pitches in with “Honey glazed ham, a poppy seed cake and cheesecake!” and our co-founder Melissa F adds, “Noni’s cracked crab” we burst into spontaneous applause. Can you tell we’re all food crazy here at Elum?

What’s Elum’s holiday party like? Give us the lowdown!

“Sparkly & Boozy!“ declares Haley. “Super fun!” agrees Kristi. “We do a white elephant exchange, have a yummy dinner and we usually go dancing late night!” This year will be production artist, Scott H’s, first ever Elum holiday party and he tells us he, “Can’t wait!” When he asks Tim about the last Elum holiday party, Tim replies, “It was so good that I have a hard time remembering.” Lindsey helps him out, “That party was a HOOT! Tim was VERY festively dressed in a Christmas sweater. Everyone in the company is fun-loving and thoughtful. It’s wonderful to be able to unwind with such a great group of people.”

What Elum goodies will you be giving as gifts this year?

“I will be gifting Big Stack notepads to friends and family,” creative project lead, Shelby H, tells us. “They are very useful and a wonderful locally made product.” Lindsey agrees. “My family is addicted to Big Stacks. They’re the PERFECT notepad and the only way I’m guaranteed to not lose my shopping list. I’ve put one of them in everyone’s stocking as well as some Weekly Eats list pads.” Shannon will be gifting our “Letterpress journals. They’re a great practical but fun gift.” While Tim will be sending folk, “The Feliz Navidog card…’cause my son likes dogs.”

What are you wishing for in 2019?

“New experiences that will lead to new happy lasting memories for years to come,” says Melissa. Kristi adds, “Healthy Elum babies—we have two new babies at Elum that will be born in 2019! Some relief from the natural disasters happening around the world, and to spend more quality time with friends and family.” Cheers to all that! Haley and Lindsey dream of traveling. “Somewhere tropical,” Lindsey tells us, while Haley says, “Every year I try to make a bucket list of hikes, road trips and vacations— plotted at the beginning of the year to look forward to!” Our inside sales manager, Sara C, is looking forward to, “Spending more time in my garden and a full edible garden in the spring!” Tim is also thinking about gardening. He’s wondering if he can plant a tree “that yields cash and ribeye steaks!” We all laugh, and leave it to Nancy to sum everything up. “I wish good health and happiness for all the people I know.”

We raise our glasses and wish you health and happiness. We wish you time spent with loved ones and time doing what you love. We wish you all the joy and magic of the Holidays and all the wonderful possibilities of the New Year! From Elum’s family to yours.

6 Must-Haves For Your Summer Stationery Travel Kit

7.18.2017

Here at Elum we know summer is all about being on the go. You’ve got to make the most of the few fleeting months of good weather, right? Whether you’re at a BBQ, sipping a poolside drink or jet setting around the world, the fast pace of summer can be a lot to keep up with. That’s why we’ve curated a stationery travel kit—to make sure you never miss a beat all summer long. Stay organized, capture your brilliant thoughts and never forget a birthday, wedding or thank you along the way.

Here’s what we’ll have packed in our stationery travel kit this summer.

1.) JOURNAL

Elum Monstera Leaves Spiral Journal | Summer Stationery Travel Kit

There’s a better way to capture your memories than with a selfie stick (seriously, put it down). Take a little time each day to recap your summer adventures in a journal. It’s a great way to unwind at the end of a fun-filled day or pass the time while you’re catching some poolside sun. If you’re having trouble choosing just one method of keeping memories, a travel journal can also double as a sketch book, a scrapbook, a place to house a collection like pressed flowers or to write down the recipes for all your favorite summer cocktails.

 

2.) WASHI TAPE

Elum Flamenco Flamingo Washi Tape Set | Summer Stationery Travel Kit

Washi tape is the perfect complement to your travel journal. It can attach maps, ticket stubs or Polaroids to accompany your brilliant thoughts. It’s also great for gifting. Use it to attach gift tag, dress up plain wrapping paper or as a colorful replacement to ribbon on gift wrap. It’s the perfect way to dress up a card’s envelope. You can even use it to make an easy DIY book mark, personalize your phone cord (so none of your friends or family accidentally walk away with it) or use it for party decorations.

 

3.) LIST PADS

Elum Lightbulb Magnetic List Pad | Summer Stationery Travel Kit

Summer always seems to fly by so it’s easy to see how things fall through the cracks. Stay uber organized all summer long with a handy list pad. Make a grocery list for your upcoming party and create a checklist for your suitcase so you don’t leave your toothbrush behind (again). It’s also really convenient if you need to leave instructions for your dog sitter, a friendly note to someone parked poorly at a festival (I mean, come on! Finding parking is hard enough and now you’re going to take up TWO spaces?) or maybe even to leave your number for that cute bartender, hey you never know!

 

4.) MINI NOTES

Elum Je T'aime Letterpress Mini Notes

Be ready for whatever occasions summer has in store with a set of assorted mini notes. They may be small but they’ll leave a big impression. Say thanks to the host of a BBQ, leave one for a friend who needs some motivation and have a back up plan for forgetting your Aunt Lisa’s birthday. These little letterpress dreamboats are pint-sized and perfectly portable.

 

5.) BOXED NOTES

Elum 'Ello Letterpress Box Notes

Rediscover the art of the hand-written note. A more meaningful way of staying in touch than sending a Facebook message. The recipient is sure to get the warm-and-fuzzies when they realize you took the time to pen a hand-written letter. You can start correspondence with a new pen pal and look forward to getting something other than bills in your mailbox. They’re also a luxe alternative to a post card on your travels.

 

6.) PEN OR PENCIL

Elum Summer of Stationery Jet Setter Collection

Maybe the most important part of our stationery travel kit is a dependable writing apparatus. Without a pen or pencil you won’t be able to write down your brilliant thoughts, sign your name on a greeting cards or compose a hand-written message.

Want to win one of our Summer of Stationery Travel Kits? Head to Elum’s Instagram and keep an eye out for details.

Is there anything else you think would be super useful in a stationery travel kit? Tell us about it in the comments below!

 

22 Great Travel Gift Ideas for Every Type of Adventurer

4.10.2017

The key to the perfect travel gift is finding something that reflects the recipients unique travel style. Luckily, we’ve put together a comprehensive guide of travel gift ideas for the adventurous spirit in your life. Whether they’re jetting off to foreign lands in search of a new adventure or simply pitching a tent and gazing at the stars, we’ve found something for every type of traveler.

Travel Gift Ideas for Jet Setters

If you need to find the perfect gift for someone who always has their luggage packed just in case they need to jet off on an impromptu adventure, these are just what you’ve been scouring the globe for. Great for anyone who prefers to keep their head in the clouds but never their feet on the ground.

Travel Gift Ideas

A.) Cork Globe from CB2 pinpoints all their past travels and gives them something to look forward to coming home to.

B.) Kate Spade His and Hers Luggage Tags from Papyrus are the perfect wedding or engagement gift for your favorite traveling dynamic duo.

C.) Travel Candles from World Market allows them to take the scent of home on the road with them.

D.) World Map Necklace from Modcloth perfectly embodies the spirit of an aspiring world traveler.

E.) Minute Message Box Notes by Elum are small enough to keep in their carry-on bag so they can send you a quick update from wherever in the world they may be.

F.) Astonishing Erasers by Elum can’t erase travel woes but can keep all their travel correspondence mistake free.

G.) Carpe Diem Passport Holder from Anthropologie keeps their passport protected so they can always seize the day.

H.) Airplane Bloody Mary Kit from Urban Outfitters makes any hour happy hour.

Travel Gift Ideas for Campers

For anyone who’s favorite pair of shoes are hiking boots and who’s more comfortable in a sleeping bag than in a hotel room. Great gifts for someone who loves the smell of campfire in their hair and is happiest as a camper.

Travel Gift Ideas

A.) Adventure Together Letterpress Card by Elum, for your favorite camp-mate.

B.) Campfire Candle from ShopSpring.com allows them to bring the scent of a campfire home.

C.)  Stay Sharp 10 oz. Flask by Best Made Co., because no camping trip is complete without story telling around a campfire with good people and a flask of your favorite spirits.

D.)  Camp Vibes Enamel Mug by Poler, for maximum coffee enjoyment outside a tent or at an office desk.

E.) Observer’s Field Guide by Elum is covered in real cork with alternating lined and sketch pages for all of their natural observations (or to help bring that outdoor feeling to their desk all week long)

F.) Happy Camper Pennant from Strawberry Moth, so they can let their camp-flag fly.

G.) Soapsquatch by Leeloo Soap, so they can finally know what it would be like to be held in the sweet embrace of Sasquatch.

Travel Gift Ideas for Star Gazers

Know someone who always has their eyes to the stars? Keep them there with any of these stellar gift ideas, perfect for the amateur astronomer in your life.

Travel Gift Ideas

A.) 3-Pack Constellation Notebooks by Elum, for documenting all of their astrological findings.

B.)  Planisphere Watch from Uncommon Goods, for stargazing in style.

C.) Constellation Mug from Amazon, to house the coffee that will keep them awake late enough to find constellations.

D.)  Zodiac Embroidery Hoop from howcouldyouclothing, for those who are looking for more meaning in the stars.

E.) Star Map Book Bound Journal by Elum, for mapping the stars and their thoughts.

F.) Space Case by Realm, for anyone who’s ever wanted a pocket full of stars, this is probably the next best thing.

G.) Space Map Art Print by Capricorn Press, for star-gazing on a cloudy night.

G.) I Need Some Space Bar Soap by Leeloo Soap because it’s out of this world.

 

Have any other great gift ideas for travelers? As an adventurer, what’s the best gift you’ve ever gotten? Tell us about it in the comments below!