As always, everything linked below is from a small business.

• A 2026 Calendar
  Useful and extremely cute.

• A membership to their favorite museum
  Some museums are even running Black Friday sales for their annual memberships.

• Gift your favorite book you read this year (and buy it from your favorite small bookstore)
  Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow is one of my all time favorites. I need to think harder about what my favorite book I read this year is, but we just read The Marriage Portrait for the book club I’m in, and I loved that too.

• A gift card to their favorite local coffee shop
  Self-explanatory, but still one of my favorite gifts I received this year for my birthday! You can’t go wrong gifting an entire holiday season’s worth of chai lattes. (Obv can also be applied to local brewery, winery, etc.)

• DIY!
  Write them a nice card (from a small business of course) and/or make something for them; baked goods, a painting, knitwear, whatever you want. I am opting to sew a lot of gifts this year – I already made my dog this Christmas stocking, and I’m making two more for a friend. A dopp kit would be a useful gift. I’ve also already made two of these bottle bags.

And lastly, here are a few small business sales happening now and into this weekend:

• Areaware (30% off sitewide)

• Catbird Jewelry (1000+ items on sale)

• Chez Lapin (15% off sitewide)

• Dusen Dusen (up to 60% off)

• East Fork Pottery (20% off sitewide)

• For The Ages (20% off with code THANKYOU20)

• GLDN Jewelry (select items on sale)

• Golde (20% off sitewide)

• Humboldt House (20% off sitewide)

• Jenna Vanden Brink Ceramics (cutest gift with purchase)

• Molly Egan (30% off sitewide)

• Shop Emily (20% off sitewide + more)

• Kozha Numbers (30% off sitewide)

• Studebaker Metals (25% off sitewide)

• Verloop (30% off with code COZYGIFTS)

If you’re also a small business owner running a sale this weekend, comment down below.

Thank you for being here and be sure to shop small this holiday season <3

Have a shopping request? Ask Small Fry. You can shop all of my Small Fry picks here. Follow me on Instagram and TikTok, and if you’re enjoying Small Fry, you now have the option to leave a tip.

All photos above are courtesy of respective brands unless stated otherwise. On rare occasions, I may make a small commission from certain links.

As always, everything linked below is from a small business.

• Areaware Bottle Opener

  Areaware is so good at making everyday items fun.

• Stainless Steel Chopsticks

  These come in a million different colors, but the cobalt blue is my personal favorite.

• Dusen Dusen Terry Towels

  You can never have too many dish towels, and these are so pretty.

• Oatmeal Shop Mesa Bowl

  I’m obsessed with Oatmeal Shop’s entire collection of these mesa bowls.

• Hana Makes A Lot Ceramic Fruit Bowl

  I love the pattern on this fruit bowl.

• East Fork Pottery

  I’ve been wanting to pick up something from East Fork for awhile now, and this Guava colorway might be what finally influences me to do it.

• Estelle Colored Glass

  I’ve shared Estelle’s wine glasses here before, but they also do a cake stand that is gorgeous.

  

• Noble x Le Bon Shoppe Socks

  Love the light blue and red pairs.

• Small Evident Earrings

  These are a fun alternative to regular hoop earrings.

• Cashmere Fingerless Gloves

  I was gifted a similar pair of gloves to these almost a decade ago, and I still wear them every year.

• Sequin Star Charm

  These sequin charms are so cool.

• Dusen Dusen Egg Apron

  An apron has been high on my list of sewing projects, but this pattern is so good.

• Little Beast Dog Sweater

  Having a dog who is part Chihuahua means that he’s cold all the time, so this sweater might be the next addition to his wardrobe.

• Verloop Beanie

  I love everything Verloop makes, and this beanie is no exception.
  

Thank you for being here! I’ll be back next week with the final guide <3

Have a shopping request? Ask Small Fry. You can shop all of my Small Fry picks here. Follow me on Instagram and TikTok, and if you’re enjoying Small Fry, you now have the option to leave a tip.

All photos above are courtesy of respective brands unless stated otherwise. On rare occasions, I may make a small commission from certain links.

For this year’s guides, I’m trying to be sensitive to price, so at least for Part I, nearly everything is under $30.

As always, everything linked below is from a small business.

• Pump Street Sourdough & Sea Salt Chocolate Bar

  When our resident chocolate expert, Lia, was a guest on Small Fry earlier this year, this is one the bars she recommended. She very kindly gifted me a bar of it, and it’s one of the best chocolate flavor combos I’ve ever had.

• Rocky’s Matcha

  I wrote about buying this matcha a few months back, and have been loving it.

• Redhawk Coffee Beans

  This blend is what my local coffee shop has been brewing lately, and it’s so good.

• 1787 White Raspberry Balsamic Vinegar

  My mother-in-law introduced me to this brand, and it’s been the perfect pairing with homemade focaccia.

• Olive Oil

  You can’t go wrong with gifting someone a nice bottle (or in Fat Gold’s case, a tin) of olive oil. I also want to try this chili infused olive oil.

• Tinned Fish

  I’ve been eating a lot of tinned fish lately (recession indicator?), and I know it’s not for everyone, but I have a lot of people in my life who are adventurous enough to eat clams from a can (I would eat pretty much anything with chili, garlic and olive oil on it). This smoked coho salmon from Wildfish Cannery was also highly recommended, and the brand also designed this fish fork in collaboration with a small designer.

• Barnacle Foods Kelp Hot Sauce

  Wildfish also collaborated with Barnacle Foods to make this kelp hot sauce, which I am very intrigued by.

• Simply You Soap & Candle Co. Pink Himalayan Candle

  This candle makes our house smell like a spa. It has notes of “pink grapefruit and white sandalwood, dusted with pink sea salt.” (Note: I know it’s hard to commit to a scent you haven’t smelled, but I hate floral or vanilla scents, and love citrusy or earthy scents if that’s helpful to know.)

• Simple Sugars Green Tea Body Scrub

  I’ve talked about Simple Sugars’ facial scrubs, but their body scrubs are amazing too, especially if you have sensitive skin.

• TB Fragrances Mediterranean Incense

  I’ve been seeing this incense everywhere, and the fig and black currant scent sounds perfect.

• Lovett Sundries Lemongrass Hand Cream

  The travel size version of this hand cream would be perfect to keep in your bag through the winter months.

• Appalachian Wax Works Beeswax Candle Ornament

  I saw these beeswax ornaments at a holiday market last year, and thought they were so sweet.
  

Thank you for being here! I’ll be back next week with Part II.

Have a shopping request? Ask Small Fry. You can shop all of my Small Fry picks here. Follow me on Instagram and TikTok, and if you’re enjoying Small Fry, you now have the option to leave a tip.

All photos above are courtesy of respective brands unless stated otherwise. On rare occasions, I may make a small commission from certain links.

Good morning! I’m back with a new Small World. In today’s letter, we’re talking about AI bunnies, a new dictionary, and I have a new edition of Small Print for you.

The 2025 Small Fry Gift Guides begin launching this Sunday (11/2), so mark your calendars. And if you have requests of your own, let me know!

• I love this print by Isabel Otten

• I really want to make these soot sprite inspired brownies

• Soup season is here and this was my inaugural recipe

• I <3 being an AI hater:

  • This ad from Merriam Webster (yes, the dictionary) is perfect

  • Dazy Chains (a genius) made this incredible pillow cover inspired by how they were tricked by the AI bunnies on a trampoline video

• I made my first quilt last week and now I think I’m addicted to making quilts

  

• I also (kind of) participated in Inktober until I got obsessed with making the quilt above, but you can see what I drew here

Small Print is the section of Small World, where I share all of the latest small business news from the last month.

• I feel like a broken record talking about tariffs:

  • I’ve been noticing a huge spike in small business owners discontinuing imported products because of the insane price increases, and it seems that they’re not alone.

  • As big box stores feel the negative effects of tariffs, small businesses are seizing the opportunities of vacant spaces in malls.

• Many small business owners have paused or are rethinking future hiring amidst the government shutdown.

  • Meanwhile, HubSpot introduced AI “teammates”, (which makes me want to claw my own eyes out) and it made me wonder if the same small business owners mentioned in the Axios article above will pivot to this type of service. I would personally be very concerned about customer data being leaked or compromised. And as a consumer, I would not want any of my personal data being handled by an AI “teammate”, whatever that even is.

• It’s the most wonderful time to be shopping small: “The holiday season is the most critical time of the year for small businesses, accounting for up to half of annual sales for 60 percent of owners.”

Have a shopping request? Ask Small Fry. You can shop all of my Small Fry picks here. Follow me on Instagram and TikTok, and if you’re enjoying Small Fry, you now have the option to leave a tip.

All photos above are courtesy of respective brands unless stated otherwise. On rare occasions, I may make a small commission from certain links.

Good morning! Today’s letter is another edition of Ask Small Fry, where you tell me what you’re shopping for and I find a small business that makes it. Before we get into it, I wanted to mention that against all odds, I’m doing Inktober this year & you can follow along here.

Bedding is expensive, but as usual with Ask Small Fry, I tried to keep everything listed below under ~$250. Most (if not all) of the brands offer coupon codes when you sign up for their newsletter so keep that in mind if you see anything you like.

If you have a request of your own, Ask Small Fry <3

Dusen Dusen House Coverlet

Obsessed with this house pattern.

Dusen Dusen Ricrac Duvet Set

This blue duvet is also great.

Piglet in Bed

Really into stripes lately.

Also love this shade of green.

Molly Egan

I’ve shared Molly’s blankets before, but I’m doing it again because this color combo is perfectly autumnal.

You can never go wrong with light blue and burgundy.

Bed Threads

These come in tons of different colors.

Hawkins New York

This brand has some really good deals on cotton percale bedding right now, including this duvet cover that looks like a cloud.

More autumnal colors.

Have a shopping request? Ask Small Fry. You can shop all of my Small Fry picks here. Follow me on Instagram and TikTok, and if you’re enjoying Small Fry, you now have the option to leave a tip.

All photos above are courtesy of respective brands unless stated otherwise.

Good morning! In today’s letter, I’m sharing all of my small business finds from the last month.

Have a shopping request of your own? Ask Small Fry.

Kristy Lin Jewelry Cracked Egg Necklace

I don’t know when I would wear this (all the time? everywhere?) but oh my god I’m obsessed with this silver cracked egg necklace.

Han Studio x Appalachian Wax Works Collab Candles

I saw Han Studio’s candlesticks at a local shop last week, and when I went to look at them online, I came across these gorgeous pillar candles that were made in collaboration with Appalachian Wax Works.

Bromstad Printing Co. Corn Notepad

This notepad makes me happy when I look at it.

Dilo Amber + Oakmoss Reed Diffuser Oil

Okay this one is huge for me because I’ve been trying (and failing) to find a good reed (not electronic) diffuser oil for months, but this Philly-based brand may be the answer. They also make incense in a Hinoki scent that sounds delightful.

Meri Meri Ghost Table Candles

I saw these a few weeks ago while looking for birthday candles and they’re so sweet.

Verloop Knits Triangle Scarf

Starting to think about dressing for cooler weather and this reminds me of the little scarves my grandma used to wrap around her head when it was raining or snowing, I love it.

Verloop Knits Patch Dog Sweater

Obviously need something to keep Porkchop warm too.

Have a shopping request? Ask Small Fry. You can shop all of my Small Fry picks here. Follow me on Instagram and TikTok, and if you’re enjoying Small Fry, you now have the option to leave a tip.

All photos above are courtesy of respective brands unless stated otherwise. On rare occasions, I may make a small commission from certain links.

Good morning! I’m back with a new Small World. In today’s letter, we’re talking about cheesecake, some new-to-me small brands, and a new edition of Small Print, where I share all of the latest small business news with you.

This week has felt a little bleak, so I’m starting to work on holiday gift guides (I know, I know). If you have thoughts about what you’d like to see included this year, DM me.

• I managed to snag a seconds sale chunky mug from Hotel Ceramics and I’ve been using it everyday

  

• I have been listening to nothing but Black Moth Super Rainbow (their new album and old stuff too) since I saw them live again last month

• I was in DC over Labor Day weekend and am still thinking about the dumplings I had from Lapis

• Everyone I know is apparently a Virgo because I’ve been celebrating friends’ birthdays nonstop this month – I enjoyed sewing a couple of these bouquet bags for their gifts using this tutorial

  

• Related: I think Kyle’s Cakes N’at has possibly created the best cheesecake on earth

  

Small Print is a new section of Small World, where I share all of the latest small business news from the last month.

• A framework deal for the TikTok sale has reportedly been agreed upon that would “have an American-dominated board with one member designated by the U.S. government”, which by definition is state media so… yeah, no thanks.

• So much tariff news, so little time:

  • The Supreme Court is hearing an appeals case on tariffs during the first week of November

  • In the meantime, the de minimis exemption is officially gone and it’s creating chaos and uncertainty for small business owners

  • Beware of new brokerage charges from FedEx, UPS and DHL

  • If you’re looking to manufacture enamel pins, keychains, or washi tape, Alchemy Merch is covering all tariff fees for orders to the US

• As Google’s AI overviews (which I hate btw) become more popular, you may need to start rethinking your SEO strategy if you have a small business

• Economists are now saying ICE raids are responsible for a small business worker shortage

• On the surface, it looks like small business optimism rose again in August, but when you look more closely at the data, you’ll see it’s being driven by expectations of a higher sales volume leading up to the holiday season – if you’re a small business owner, I’m curious how you feel about this?

• To end on a lighter note, here are a few small brands I discovered this month:

  • Look at these lamps from Martina Thornhill

  • And also this plate from Nonporous Ceramics

  • And lastly, these very charming pieces by Toledo Jewelry

Have a shopping request? Ask Small Fry. You can shop all of my Small Fry picks here. Follow me on Instagram and TikTok, and if you’re enjoying Small Fry, you now have the option to leave a tip.

All photos above are courtesy of respective brands unless stated otherwise. On rare occasions, I may make a small commission from certain links.

Hi! I hope everyone is having a nice weekend. It’s been about a month since my last post because I just started my first semester of grad school (!!!). It’s been a busy few weeks, but I’m starting to settle into a new routine so I’ll be attempting to get back to my biweekly schedule on here. I’ve missed it!

Today’s letter is another edition of Ask Small Fry, where you tell me what you’re shopping for and I find a small business that makes it. Our reader today is searching for the elusive combination of neutral clothing with a bold pattern. They don’t really wear color, so we’re going Brenda Hashtag mode for today’s picks.

If you have a request of your own, Ask Small Fry <3

One of a Few White Lace Button Down Blouse

Starting out with texture: this lace makes a beautiful yet subtle pattern.

Ali Golden Woven Crochet T-shirt

A good option going into autumn.

Tyler McGillivary Zeri Skirt

I love this skirt! The flowers are mirrored, so it gives some dimension and pattern, but I think it would still be really easy to style.

A Bronze Age Mary Top

I love pretty much every pattern that this top comes in and there are even shorts to match.

Big Bud Press Railroad Jeans in Vintage Tan Stripe

Subtle stripes and I love the contrast stitching.

Ersa Fibers

I saved the best for last because Ersa is kind of unbeatable in this very specific category. The silhouettes are simple, making them perfect for everyday wear, but the patterns are very fun. Here are a few of my favorite neutral options from them:

Ersa Fibers Frankie Top in Child’s Play

Ersa Fibers Charlie Skirt in Macaroni

Ersa Fibers Quilted Frankie Top

Have a shopping request? Ask Small Fry. You can shop all of my Small Fry picks here. Follow me on Instagram and TikTok, and if you’re enjoying Small Fry, you now have the option to leave a tip.

All photos above are courtesy of respective brands unless stated otherwise.

Good morning! In today’s letter, I’m sharing all of my small business finds from June and July. Have a shopping request of your own? Ask Small Fry.

Devil Wood Oil Perfume by Edge of Urge

I was recently in Wilmington and popped into Edge of Urge, hoping to pick up a new perfume oil. You may remember that I’ve talked about their other scents in the past, but this is my new favorite. It smells like green tea and is very faintly floral, but mostly earthy. I’m obsessed.

Walnut Rice Paddle Scoop by Colin Garrity

I use my rice cooker at least once a week, and I, like many people, have been trying to cut out plastic cooking utensils, so this wooden rice scoop is on my list.

Husk Brooms Colorblock Hand Broom

Functional and beautiful.

Furbish Studio Napkins

I love the colors in this cloth napkin set. Some of their other sets are on sale, too.

Fredericks & Mae Confetti Cutting Board

I’ve been searching for a small cutting board, and I know I just said I was trying to avoid plastic, but I’m full of contradictions, and look at how cute it is.

Cherry End-grain Cutting Board by Square Root Studio

I also love this one.

Fredericks & Mae Sage Candle Holder

While looking at their cutting boards, I found these gorgeous candle holders, also from Fredericks & Mae. “Electricity is gauche.”

Thanks Dad Fish Charm

I already have a fish charm, so I didn’t end up getting this, but it’s so cute.

Have a shopping request? Ask Small Fry. You can shop all of my Small Fry picks here. Follow me on Instagram and TikTok, and if you’re enjoying Small Fry, you now have the option to leave a tip.

All photos above are courtesy of respective brands unless stated otherwise. On rare occasions, I may make a small commission from certain links.

Good morning! I’m finally back with a new Small World. In today’s letter, we’re covering what I’ve been consuming this month (reality television, brats, etc), as well as a new feature, where I share all of the latest small business news.

• I finally watched the newest Wallace & Gromit movie, and loved it

• If you’re looking to watch something that’s the complete opposite of Wallace & Gromit in every way, I’ve been obsessed with The Valley (and arguably more importantly, Danny Pellegrino’s recaps of it)

• I love tennis

• I also love the Into the Fridge series that Katie Stone does on her Substack

• I’ve been on the hunt for recipes (specifically for lunch) that do not involve turning on my oven, and this one reminds me of a great dish that I had in Barcelona

• And speaking of food, I ate this at Biercamp in Ann Arbor and will be thinking about it until further notice:

  

Small Print is a new section of Small World, where I share all of the latest small business news from the last month.

• More than half of U.S. small business owners are now over the age of 55, and feeling the pressure to sort out their Logan Roy-esque succession plans

• I watched all 28 riveting minutes of the US Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business Update event on Tuesday, which focused on the tax bill, tariffs, and immigration. Here’s what I found interesting:

  • Tariffs already have 70% of small businesses paying higher prices for the goods and services they buy

  • And because of that, about 60% of them have raised prices for the goods and services they sell

  • Small business owners are remaining optimistic about their businesses and local economies, but only 34% of them say the U.S. economy is a healthy one

  • The USCC says they have a “real concern” over how the current administration's decision to rescind work authorizations en masse will affect immigrants and the small businesses they work for

• The USCC also just updated its list of grants that small business owners can apply for, including one of their own that they’re calling the CO–100 where you could receive up to $25,000 and, more importantly, meet Daymond from Shark Tank

• LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs are starting businesses in record numbers

• Anthrocon was held in Pittsburgh a couple of weeks ago and is expected to have generated $22 million in revenue for local businesses

• The Kaan bags I swear by for concerts are back in stock

I’ll leave you with this:

Have a shopping request? Ask Small Fry. You can shop all of my Small Fry picks here. Follow me on Instagram and TikTok, and if you’re enjoying Small Fry, you now have the option to leave a tip.

All photos above are courtesy of respective brands unless stated otherwise. On rare occasions, I may make a small commission from certain links.

Good morning! I’m back from a little unplanned hiatus, In today’s letter, we’re talking about wedding gifts. Thank you to Taylor for this topic suggestion <3

I am usually a loyal stick-to-the-registry type of person, but these are some Small Fry-approved ideas if you want to gift something special.

Helena Haddox Medieros Custom Wedding Plate

I think personalized wedding gifts can be tough to get right, but I love the look of these custom name plates. You can even choose between last names, a little floral illustration, or something completely custom for the design in the center.

Estelle Wine Stemware

When I got married, my best friends gifted us a custom set of these beautiful handblown wine glasses, and they are so special to me.

Gohar World Fish Lemon Squeezer

I know the swan version of this has been everywhere, but I prefer the fish.

Coming Soon NY Confetti Cake Plate

I don’t think you can go wrong with serveware. I’m obsessed with this cake plate.

Coming Soon NY Oval Platter

This green is so good.

Make something yourself

Take a class and make a gift! A couple of our friends made us gifts themselves, and they’re some of the most cherished (and used) things we own. Think: cutting boards, hand-carved utensils, etc.

Bonus: Etsy favorites

This idea is inspired by our realtor, who found my Etsy account and bought us champagne coupes from my favorites list. Not only was this incredibly thoughtful, but it’s a sneakily great way to gift something vintage that you know they’ll love. She gave them to us before we got married, so we even got to use them for a toast at our tiny backyard wedding. These are the same ones we have, but I also love these and these.

Have a shopping request? Ask Small Fry. You can shop all of my Small Fry picks here. Follow me on Instagram and TikTok, and if you’re enjoying Small Fry, you now have the option to leave a tip.

All photos above are courtesy of respective brands unless stated otherwise. On rare occasions, I may make a small commission from certain links.

Good morning! In today’s letter, I’m sharing all of my small business finds from May.

Some housekeeping first:

• I’ve created a form for you to submit requests to Ask Small Fry, so ask away <3

• I’ve compiled (almost) all of the items I’ve ever mentioned on Small Fry here!

  • I chose to host this on ShopMy because it’s free, the infrastructure is perfect for what I needed, and it’s easy to navigate for us both

  • On very rare occasions, I may earn a small commission from these links (for example, Verloop Knits partners with ShopMy, so I would earn a commission via links from that brand)

I’ll be back next week with the ultimate wedding gift guide <3

Rocky’s Matcha

I saw Aimee France using this matcha brand, and there are few things she couldn’t convince me to buy, so here we are.

Vintage Wooden Fish Charm

I’m in the process of finishing a little office makeover (that I may or may not have started in January), and I kind of want to get a fish charm like this one in honor of Small Fry.

Donut Espresso Mug & Saucer Set

I’m in the market for a new mug, and this set is the cutest thing I’ve ever seen.

Maria Ida Glass Blown Rainbow Mini Nest Bowl

This tiny bowl would be perfect for storing all of my rings, but I think I would also use it for M&Ms.

Juice Ceramics All Seeing Butterfly Plate

I love this.

Update: Glad & Young Studio Passport Cover

I mentioned this passport cover in my last monthly round-up, and I ended up going with the matcha colorway if you even care. It’s beautifully made. I refuse to get my Real ID since I just renewed my passport, so I love that this has credit card slots since I’ll need to carry it with me when I fly.

Have a shopping request? Ask Small Fry. You can shop all of my Small Fry picks here. Follow me on Instagram and TikTok, and if you’re enjoying Small Fry, you now have the option to leave a tip.

All photos above are courtesy of respective brands unless stated otherwise. On rare occasions, I may make a small commission from certain links.

I’m writing this post while using my suitcase as a desk in what can only be described as an abandoned terminal in the under-construction Pittsburgh airport. Here’s hoping the renovations will result in more than two functioning electrical outlets and a better place to sit because my back hurts.

Today we’re back with another edition of Ask Small Fry, where you tell me what you’re shopping for and I find a small business that makes it. One of our gorgeous readers is searching for a small crossbody bag (preferably nylon). I am incredibly picky about what bags I carry, so this was a fun one.

If you have a request of your own, don’t be shy!

Pa’lante Packs Side Bag

“A crossbody side bag for all activities.” I think this is a great option with plenty of size and color choices. I particularly love this lichen colorway.

&Brush Colorblock Fanny Pack

This is a great neutral option, but I love the orange too.

Coa White Nylon Travel Sling

I love the design of this one because it has a pen holder, and since it can hold a passport, I think it would also fit a little sketchbook.

Prime Cut Bags Lil Guys

I know this isn’t nylon, but this leather option is so cute. I love that you can request a custom strap length. It comes in a variety of designs, but I like this kelp color the best.

Room Shop Crossbody Bounce Bag

This is a little more trendy than the other options, but it’s fun, and I’ve been obsessed with this shade of blue lately, so I had to include it. They also make a version with an enormous bow, if that’s something you’re into.

You can find me on Instagram, TikTok, Substack, and Bluesky. My work is here, and my email is here. If you’re enjoying Small Fry, you now have the option to leave a tip.

All photos above are courtesy of their respective brands unless stated otherwise.

Good morning! Today’s letter includes my small business finds from the last month.

Glad and Young Studio Passport Holder

I recently renewed my passport, and I am way too clumsy not to have some sort of protective layer for it. I love this metallic pink, and you can even have it monogrammed.

Clark Morelia Passport Holder

I also love the design of this one from Clark Morelia.

Lucca House

I really like this modular furniture.

Tess Johnson Lace Bag

I’ve been seeing bags like this everywhere on the internet. It may not be the most practical, but it is so beautiful.

Bunnie Studio Pink Clover Necklace

This necklace is so good.

You can find me on Instagram, TikTok, Substack, and Bluesky. My work is here, and my email is here. If you’re enjoying Small Fry, you now have the option to leave a tip.

All photos above are courtesy of their respective brands unless stated otherwise.

Good morning! Today’s letter is a Mother’s Day gift guide. Enjoy!

Sapling Press Mother of the Goddamn Year Mug

I have personally gifted my own mother this mug, and I can confirm it was a hit.

Molly Egan Busy Town Blanket

This cutie blanket would be a great gift for a new mom in your life or the mom who loves interiors.

Appalachian Wax Works Taper Candles

These beeswax candles smell incredible, and look so sweet.

Thanks Dad Necklace Charms

I love this brand’s gemstones à la carte section. They come in a wide variety of prices and styles, so there’s something for everyone. I’ve had my eye on this garnet heart for some time now.

Piecework Blossom Puzzle

This puzzle looks as challenging as it is beautiful.

You can find me on Instagram, TikTok, Substack, and Bluesky. My work is here, and my email is here.

If you’re enjoying Small Fry, you now have the option to leave a tip.

Good morning! Today’s letter is a day early to celebrate Independent Bookstore Day, perhaps the only day I aspire to be like Rory Gilmore (reading constantly, having a large collection of books).

Below are some books I enjoyed from my own library, as well as what’s currently on my TBR list. This was very hard to keep short, and after going through a lot of the books I own, I will be writing a separate post just on art and design books in the future.

You can find the nationwide map of participating bookstores for Indie Bookstore Day here if you’re looking to support a local-to-you shop.

Some picks from my personal library:

A Wrinkle in Time series

These were my favorite books as a kid, and I bought some new copies on vacation a few years ago at this amazing shop in Wilmington. A Swiftly Tilting Planet is my personal favorite.

Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabriel Zevin

One of my favorite books I’ve read in the last few years.

Raven Smith’s Trivial Pursuits

This book was so funny and smart.

Slow Times, Fast Company by Eve Babitz

I’m a little obsessed with Eve and have loved learning about her life over the last few years. Also, I love books of essays, sue me.

The White Album by Joan Didion

Obviously a classic, but I think about the last essay in this book all the time.

A few things in my to-be-read pile:

• The Old Place by Bobby Finger

• What Artists Wear by Charlie Porter

• Syllabus by Linda Barry

And a look at my current Libby holds:

• The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro

• Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar

• Careless People by Sarah Wynn-Williams

• The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley

• Blue Sisters by Coco Mellor

You can find me on Instagram, TikTok, Substack, and Bluesky. My work is here, and my email is here. If you’re enjoying Small Fry, you now have the option to leave a tip.

Good morning! Today’s letter is the first edition of a new series called Small Talk, where I chat with small business owners and enthusiasts about what they’re shopping small for.

I’ve brought in chocolate enthusiast and friend of Small Fry, Lia Meden, to curate a list of the best small-batch chocolates to elevate your Easter basket. You can find her picks below, and be sure to follow along for her reviews and recipes on TikTok.

Pump Street Sourdough & Sea Salt Bar

It really does taste like sourdough! Highly recommend.

Colts Chocolate Co. Coffee Jolts

The dark chocolate with the peanuts and the coffee beans? This is just everything I could want and more.

Crow and Moss Bolivian Pink Salt Dark Chocolate Bar

A rich, dark bar with just the right amount of sweetness. You can even see that the sea salt crystals are rose-colored; I think that’s such a unique detail.

Mission Chocolate Two Rivers Bar

This bar has two different kinds of Brazilian cocoa beans, which is such a cool concept. They paired so well together.

LUX Artisan Dark Chocolate Jacobsen Sea Salt Bar

The sea salt in this bar is perfectly flaky, so you can really taste it. It enhanced the flavor of the chocolate and had the perfect balance of boldness and sweetness. I love it!

You can find me (Ashley) on Instagram, TikTok, and Bluesky. If you’re enjoying Small Fry, you now have the option to leave a tip.

This post was edited by Ashley Devine. Photos above are all courtesy of respective brands, unless otherwise noted.

Good morning! Today, we’re shopping small for skin and body care products.

As a bonus, everything in this post is <$25.00 (definitely not an accident ha), and I have denoted the products I’ve actually tried with a *. Enjoy!

Sustain Yourself Lotion Bar

This product reminds me of the Soft Services buffing bar, and I love that it comes in a mini size so you can try it out before totally committing.

Meow Meow Tweet Matcha Soap

Obsessed with the packaging and scent options from this brand.

Lovett Sundries Tinted Balm

I’m very intrigued by this lip tint and will absolutely be trying it out.

Simple Sugars Blue Spirulina Facial Scrub*

This facial scrub is gentle, but actually felt like it made a difference when my skin was dry. I’ve also used a few of their body scrubs and love this scent.

Una Biologicals Body Butter*

I have purchased this body butter many times, and this scent is my favorite.

Everyday Oil

I’ve seen this brand at almost every Shoppy Shop I’ve ever been to, but I still wanted to include it here because I had no idea they had so many scent options.

Axiology Balmies

This is another brand I’ve seen at many Shoppy Shops. I have my eye on this highlighter.

You can find me on Instagram and Bluesky.

If you’re enjoying Small Fry, you now have the option to leave me a tip.

The photos above are courtesy of their respective brands unless stated otherwise.

Good morning!

Today is my birthday, but more importantly, it’s been a whole year since we adopted Porkchop! He’s asleep at my feet as I write this post, and I can’t imagine life without him.

Although he’s the best birthday gift I’ve ever received, today’s post covers everything I’d buy myself for my birthday if money were no object.

The Original Tinned Fish Candle Wishy Fishies

I need these fish candles.

Verloop Knits Scrap Coasters

I’d like some coasters for my desk, and I love these. I may even try to repurpose my sewing scraps to make something similar myself…

Dusen Dusen Tulip Pillow

I got one of these throw pillow covers on sale last year, and I think I’d like to add this one or this one to our couch as well. The quality is amazing and the designs are so good.

Susan Alexandra House Card Holder

I actually did ask for this card holder for my birthday, so I obviously had to include it here.

Vintage Polly Pocket Quilted Heart Compact

Looking to heal your inner child? How about buying a vintage Polly Pocket compact from the year you were born?

Prime Cut Bags Chartreuse Cowhide Keychain

I’m loving chartreuse lately, and this key holder is no exception.

GLDN Mia Studs

I’ve been looking for a pair of extremely tiny sterling silver studs that I can wear with some earrings my grandmother gave me. I thought this would be an easy thing to find, but it was nearly impossible. Spoiler: I bought this pair, and they arrive on Monday.

You can find me on Instagram and Bluesky.

If you’re enjoying Small Fry, you now have the option to leave me a tip.

All photos above are courtesy of their respective brands unless stated otherwise.

Good morning! Today we’re covering (mostly) zero-waste cleaning and household products. Between figuring out what to do with scrap fabric as I learn how to sew, and the conversation around overconsumption, I’ve been thinking about areas where I can go zero-waste.

I know many people make their own hand soap or laundry detergent, but if you’re like me, and you’ve ever had to call poison control after accidentally combining two cleaning products that create chlorine gas, you might be a little apprehensive about going that route. Let these small businesses do the work.

Find your local refill center

I would recommend The Refillery or Sol Refill if you’re located in Pittsburgh, but these types of businesses are popping up everywhere, so if you have a refill center near you, take advantage of it.

A Drop in the Ocean

This is one of the few refill businesses I found that ships its products without having a super high order minimum. They offer pretty much everything you could need, including these toilet cleaner bombs.

UNpaper Towels

I’ll buy almost anything if it comes in a fun color, and these reusable paper towels are no exception.

Eco Collective Citrus Cleaning Spray

Cleaning products in glass containers make me nervous because I’m a bit clumsy, so I love that this cleaning spray comes in a harder-to-break stainless steel bottle.

Lovett Sundries Solid Dish Soap

This solid dish soap seems so easy to use, and it won’t be an eyesore on your countertop.

Dirty Labs Bio Laundry Detergent

I found this brand in r/zerowaste, and people loved the Murasaki scent. It also comes in a free & clear version if you have sensitive skin.

KOBO Wild Tomato Vine Candle

When you’re done using all of the products above, you can sit back and light this candle, which comes in a seed-infused box that you can plant to grow tomatoes of your own.

You can find me on Instagram and Bluesky.

If you’re enjoying Small Fry, you now have the option to leave me a tip.

All photos above are courtesy of their respective brands unless stated otherwise.