Thursday

"I make space for what feels steady and real."

Welcome to Thursday! Today, we're chatting about:

• The design rule of threes

• How to plan your first garden

• Find the perfect job for you

• Tips for thrifting home decor

• How to understand the stock market

The Design Trick That Makes Spaces Feel Calm

There’s a reason designers often group objects in threes. It naturally creates balance without feeling rigid. Known as the “rule of three,” this approach leans into slight asymmetry, which helps spaces feel relaxed, layered, and lived-in rather than overly styled.

The idea is simple: use three items with varied heights, textures, or shapes so the eye has somewhere to move. This works just as well for bookshelves and coffee tables as it does for furniture layouts, lighting, or even color choices. One piece anchors the group, while the others support it.

What makes this rule especially useful is its flexibility. The goal isn’t matching items, but contrast: mixing sizes, materials, and spacing so nothing feels too perfect or repetitive. Think of each grouping as a quiet conversation between objects.

And like any design rule, it’s okay to break it. Sometimes symmetry feels soothing, or a single statement piece says enough on its own. If something feels right in your space, that’s usually the best guide to follow.

A Beginner’s Guide to Planning Your First Garden

Starting a garden often feels exciting, until the questions pile up. How big should it be? Where should it go? What if something goes wrong? That overwhelm is usually what stops people before they ever begin. The truth is, you don’t need a perfect plan. You just need a simple, realistic starting point.

Location matters more than anything else. Look for a spot that gets plenty of sun, has easy access to water, and workable soil. If those things aren’t available, there are still options. Raised beds, community gardens, or borrowing space from someone you know can all work just as well.

When it comes to size, smaller is better. A modest garden is easier to maintain and far more enjoyable than something that feels like a chore. Mapping it out on paper, even a rough sketch, helps turn a vague idea into something concrete and doable.

Finally, resist the urge to grow everything at once. Pick a handful of beginner-friendly plants and focus on learning them well. Gardening skills build season by season, and confidence grows right alongside them. Starting small isn’t limiting. It’s what makes success possible.

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Thank you to Pigment for sponsoring Note To Self. 

How to Spot the Good Stuff While Thrifting

Thrift stores can be incredible places to find beautiful, character-filled home pieces, if you know what to look for. The key is approaching thrifting with intention, not urgency. Not every aisle will deliver a win, and that’s okay. A good thrift trip is about patience and discernment, not filling your cart.

Items that tend to be worth your time are hard goods: artwork and frames, mirrors, candlesticks, vases, baskets, books, and solid wood or metal furniture. These pieces are easy to clean, tend to age well, and often look far more expensive than they are. Always check for cracks, chips, or structural damage before buying.

On the flip side, soft or high-risk items are usually best left behind. Upholstered furniture, pillows, throws, and heavily worn project pieces can come with more hassle than they’re worth. If something needs significant repair or deep cleaning to be usable, it’s okay to pass.

Thrifting works best when you focus on quality materials like wood, metal, glass, and ceramic, and skip anything that feels flimsy or disposable. When you shop with that mindset, you’re more likely to bring home pieces you’ll actually use and enjoy for years to come.

If You Could Be Earlier Than 85% of the Market?

Most read the move after it runs. The top 250K start before the bell.

Elite Trade Club turns noise into a five-minute plan—what’s moving, why it matters, and the stocks to watch now. Miss it and you chase.

Catch it and you decide.

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Wellness Round-Up

Parting Thoughts

• ✅ Did You Know: People tend to relax faster in rooms where seating faces each other.

• 🌅 Sunset Of The Day: Sunsets are more than beautiful—they’re actually good for your mood. Got a favorite one? Reply to this email with your best sunset or sunrise photo for a chance to be featured!

• 💭 Final Self-Care Thoughts for Today: Design isn’t just about how things look—it’s about how they make you feel when you walk through the door.

Enjoying Note to Self?

Know of a great self-care tip or article you'd love to share with the community? Want to send us pictures of you completing one of your self-care rituals? Email us at [email protected]!