I’m off this week in between jobs, a privilege I am acutely aware of, and it’s leaving me with more time and freedom to think than I’ve had for a long time.

Really, it’s a good thing, because I’ve been so in the weeds of an increasingly bad work situation, I haven’t been able to lift my head up out of it and see anything else. Am I aware of the state of the world? Yes, of course. Am I checked into the details bombarding us daily? I am, indeed. But am I connecting and contributing in the ways I have been in the past and want to be? Nope, I’m sure not.

I’m not numbing out or ignoring or avoiding anything. I’m reading. I’m talking to aligned friends. My boyfriend and I do daily downloads on the latest addition to the absolute shitshow of a reality we’re living in right now.

But the other side of reality I’m living in right now is that I have a regular person corporate job in tech that takes up 50 hours of my week and I need it to take care of myself and the people I care about.

Which, believe me, I have had quite the existential crisis about in the past couple of months.

All this to say, this week, I’m finding I finally have some breathing room to consider the small ways I can get back to myself, and then get back to my community (local and in the broader sense). It’ll probably be writing more. It’ll probably be sharing more. It’ll probably be finding some ways to be boots-on-the-ground here in Denver.

At the same time, I’m giving myself grace because I also know that starting a new job will be fairly all-consuming for the next 90 days. So I’m leaving room to say – to myself and to you, if you’re feeling similarly – it’s both/and. Small contributions help. 1:1 conversations matter. Just generally showing up in my integrity makes a difference.

Anyway, for today, this looks like highlighting some of my favorite brands out there showing up in their integrity and speaking up.

We’ve all seen the big ones out there making headlines – Target, Costco, etc. Certainly important to pay attention to and make your aligned choices. And I can probably make a relatively accurate assumption that if you’re reading this, you’re an advocate and an investor in small businesses, maybe even a small-business owner yourself. But I find that there are some in-betweens too, and some leaders really doing it right.

So, a few of my favorites I’d recommend checking out, if you haven’t already…

​MeUndies​. I’ve been a MeUndies fan for years. I mean, like, probably at least eight years. Nearly the length of time the company has been in business. I’m a fan not only for how comfy and cute their undies and bras are (my favorites ​here​ and ​here​!), but also for their sustainability efforts. And now? I’m a fan of how the Founder is openly talking about how tariffs will be affecting their operating costs. In light of that, they’re offering 44% off sitewide (to match those 44% tariffs) through 4/10. If you’re one of those people who hasn’t bought new undies in years, now’s probably a solid time to think about treating yourself.

“This isn’t just a discount. It’s a rallying cry. Every order you place helps us keep this weird, wonderful underwear dream alive. It helps us support our team and continue doing things the right way, not the easy way. If you’ve ever worn our undies and thought, “Wow, these are my favorite,” now’s the time to make it known.

Stock up. Tell a friend. Help us keep the good vibes — and the good fabric — flowing.”

​Penzey’s​. I started my Penzey’s spice collection in college. It’s a Wisconsin-based company, so I was probably aware of them before most people out there. But in the many years since, they’ve definitely grown, and the Founder, Bill Penzey, has also grown to be an outspoken liberal activist. I’m kind of obsessed with him. Bill sends out emails at least once weekly, typically touching on the latest political events, and often includes discounts. He’s always direct, but he also always focuses on kindness, hope, and accountability. Here’s an excerpt:

“This isn’t a drill. These so very ill-planned tariffs have a real chance of unlocking the door to the kind of pre-war depression I so hoped our children would only experience while sitting through high school productions of Les Mis. Be warned.

But also, be proud. If not for the overwhelming Democratic victory here in Wisconsin this Tuesday, if these tariffs had been announced from a platform of power rather than in a desperate attempt to distract from failure, there would be no chance of them being overturned. We would be doomed.

Tuesday we put fear in every Republican running for re-election next year. In their fear is our hope. Tuesday matters so much more now than it did three days ago. Thank you for this hope.

Seriously. Spices come from the world outside white privilege. He hates the world outside white privilege. Price increases will be brutal and quick. Get what you need now.”

 

If you cook or bake, consider purchasing your spices from Penzey’s from here on out. And definitely sign up for the email newsletter ​here​.

​Bookshop.org​. I stopped buying books from Amazon years ago. We already know I’m a library gal, but every so often, they don’t have what I need. Bookshop.org has been a lifesaver for me here. Every purchase on the site financially supports independent bookstores – and you can even choose which indie bookstore you want to support. I know, I know it’s so easy to just get that Amazon delivery, but it’s just so epically evil, I implore you to consider this alternate option. I find the prices to be reasonable, and the shipping to be super quick. Plus, they’re a Certified B-corp and carbon neutral.

Right now, Bookshop.org is celebrating their 5-year anniversary, and you can enter to win free books for life! Runner up prizes aren’t too shabby either. ​Use this link​ to enter the Golden Bookmark Giveaway through 4/18, and then go delete your Amazon app.

Finally, let’s throw ​Kourtney Thomas Coaching​ in the mix. I’ve been thinking a lot more about coaching and training and how it all fits together with corporate life. Whether or not that’s you too and you could use some help sorting it all out, or you’re just in a space where you could use some extra outside support, I want to make that a little more accessible. I’ll be honest and say I’ll only be able to take on a handful of clients and engagements due to my capacity limitations with day job life, so this will truly be a limited offer. So go for it, if it speaks to you. A few choices:

• Three 1-hour coaching sessions for $200 (that’s one-third of my normal rate)
• Three months of digital accountability coaching for $300 (that’s a 50% discount from my normal rate)
• 12-week customized training program – no coaching – for $200 (that’s $100 off my normal rate)

If you’re interested, head here and fill out a form to let me know and we’ll get going ASAP.

If you’re loving specific brands and businesses right now for how they’re showing up, I’d love to learn more about them! I’ll add them to my list and keep sharing here in the future, too.

Thanks for reading, and thanks for doing what you do how you do it. We can do this, together. I know you know what I mean.

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