Notes from the Week, 4.30.21

More Than Words

Last week, my husband and I took a detour to Carnegie on our way home from our second vaccine dose (I love science!) and stopped at an adorable paper boutique called More Than Words. 

A curated collection of paper goods and gift items, this is exactly the type of store I dream of opening, albeit in a different location (preferably down south) one day. Quirky, fun, and filled with a teeming selection of greeting cards, paper goods, gift wrap, and gifts like candles, mugs, jewelry, and tea towels, all with charming, funny, or raunchy greetings. She carries creations by local Pittsburgh area designers as well as popular national lines, like Rifle Paper Co. and Moglea, too.

The owner, Barbara Johnson, and her sweet pup Charlie (who reminded us so much of our Mason 💔) were so welcoming and kind. She shared examples of hilarious new cards she just got in, prime with raunchy quotes, explaining that she considered her shop the the ‘anti-Hallmark’.

If you’re in the area, I HIGHLY recommend you stop and visit. Her shop is located on Main Street in Carnegie, situated right next to a parking lot. While I was there I picked up a cheery set of ‘You Are My Sunshine’ pencils by Huckleberry Letterpress Co., a birthday greeting card for a friend, a LePen in Red, and a small Moglea notebook to stash in my bag. 

Sweet Recipes

I am late to the game but I am loving the Pittsburgh-based food blogger, Jessica Merchant, and her blog How Sweet Eats. 

I think I happened upon her because Elin Hildebrand (one of my favorite authors) raved about her in an Instagram story. Once I was on her site, I was in foodie heaven scrolling through her delicious photography and recipes. 

I have MANY more recipes bookmarked to try, but thus far, my favorites include Mediterranean Marinated Chickpeas, Spring Pasta Salad with Honey Mustard Dressing, and Easy Lemon Chicken Soup. 

Turning the Page

I’ve read most of JoJo Moyes backlist except for a few titles, one being Windfallen, or if you’re in the UK, Foreign Fruit. I’m about halfway through the book and am finding it be fantastic, like most of her writing.

I’m hoping to finish it this weekend and then hopefully start Nine Perfect Strangers by Lianne Moriarty because I want to read it before the limited series adaptation is released on Hulu!