Exciting News for the New Year!
Hi there! I hope this email finds you peaceful, enjoying life, and gently giving yourself the permission to hibernate during the cozy winter months. Am I doing that, you ask?
The honest answer is: A LITTLE!
At Marilla's we jumped into 2026 with some exciting adventures on the horizon. We're adding to our team in store this winter because my husband Joe and I happen to be adding to our family this March, expecting the arrival of twin baby girls!
During the holidays we didn't say much about it as things are always so busy and we have SO much to talk about in-store, but now that things have quieted down and my figure is changing a wee bit, it feels like a good time to share the news!
We are all so excited for our new tiny team members to arrive and the fact they are coming in March puts my mind at ease about taking some time off, as that time of year is usually fairly quiet. On the flip side, my mind races a little when I think about taking maternity leave and needing to hire during the slowest season of the year...
When I get caught in that space I remind myself of all of YOU! Our wonderful mindful community that continually supports and encourages us to keep going. We have faced so many challenges and hardships since we opened, and our village (that's you) has seen us through and kept our doors open every time. With that in mind, I have every reason to believe that with such a joyful event on the horizon, we will come through this winter stronger than ever.
All this to say, we are still moving right along at Marilla's and I'm preparing to give myself a real maternity leave in March and SO THANKFUL for our incredible team that makes Marilla's run smoothly. Hallie (Rochester) and Heather (Geneva) manage the day to day in the shops (you also may have run into Halie this holiday season who is ALSO expecting!) and Suzanne keeps orders and emails coming and going so that our shelves stay full and you stay in the loop!
Despite being leery of hiring during slow winter months I'm hopeful and excited to see the new faces we add to the team this year in both locations!
So many of you have kindly offered to help and inquired about a registry but really all I'm hoping/asking is that you keep us in mind, spread the word about Marilla's, and continue to include us in your regular household errands and stocking up! Last year when we were saving up for our peanut butter machines, some of you may remember me saying that if each customer added $3-5 to each purchase it would make a world of difference. This year that still rings true. If you want to help us have a strong winter, a splurge is always fun but a consistent small addition to your shopping list is truly all it takes.
Which is really what we're doing here in regards to the planet when I think about it...
At Marilla's it's never been about grand actions or drastic changes. It's about the small swaps we can make and the baby steps we can take towards more mindful living. Small acts make a big impact and I think that's beautiful!
Alright my friends, if you've gotten this far, thanks for reading this update, thanks for supporting our little shops, and thanks for joining us on the adventure that is 2026! I can't wait to see how this year unfolds and if you're excited about babies, stay tuned because pretty soon, we'll have one for each shop!!
Sending cozy wishes for the winter weekend!
- Marilla
