Given a day with no responsibilities, my favorite way to start the day is to wake up sans alarm… get the coffee brewing… and start cleaning. A freshly vacuumed room or sparkling kitchen makes the day feel better. This morning was especially exciting because cleaning meant setting up new furniture, getting rid of some old furniture, and finishing stylizing the office nook. It also meant going through all the business cards collected in NYC this summer and favoriting the best on Etsy. Here are some of my favorites not on Etsy:

Maman, a cafe and bakery in Soho. Such a pleasant place to have a latte and some quiche. There’s a sunny counter in the front with French magazines to read too.

Strumpet, a boutique formerly in Brooklyn but now only online. The clothes are curated from designers all over the world. Gorgeous! It was inspirational for future sewing endeavors too. Such great lines and patterns.

Green in BKLN, a shop in Brooklyn. This is a place to refill your household detergents and cleaners in re-usable containers, buy organic make-up, local baby clothes, sustainable utensils, local cook books, and free trade blankets. I spent forever browsing the tiny shop and adding items to my wish list.