'Tis the season to treat yourself and others well! Recharge your body and soul so that you can light up the world. Choose your soulmates wisely and love them like they matter. Bundle up and find the nearest park. Drink in the air. Go for a walk. Bask in the sun. Close your eyes and dream. Dare to be brave and manifest. You can totally teach an old dog new tricks. Everything that seems hard at first has an opportunity to become easier.
MCP is a foster-based rescue and outreach organization based in Chicago (with a chapter in LA) that typically takes in harder to place dogs. We are excited to be featuring some of their adorable and adoptable friends in our favorite (wink) gift guide, but we couldn’t invite them all to the party. Please scroll by and say hi to their delicious faces.
If you or someone you love and trust are up to fostering or adopting a dog, please have them fill out an application. MCP will hold your hand. You don’t even need to let them know what specific dog you are interested in. They are not a revolving door. They prefer a slow and steady approach with multiple meets so you don’t end up adopting a dog you know nothing about. MCP will always be honest about the dogs they care about and encourage you to ask questions. This community-minded organization truly wants to make the world a better place.
Please check out their petition, follow them on social media, go to the most fun fundraisers in town, donate to their efforts, and love the animals in your life. So many wonderful dogs are out there waiting for someone to step up. We promise the juice is worth the squeeze.
Billy
Billy the kid was born to be the art teacher’s pet. There’s already a sketch of you in his penco notebook. He likes to draw out a good time and gets an A for awesome on every report card.
Billy likes to show up with a good attitude and a sharp pencil. The best pencil sharpening machine of all time comes in a limited-edition red corvette color. Billy is so excited it’s hard to see his tail. This beautiful Swiss feat of engineering allows you to tailor how sharp you want to make your mark. Bark up whatever tree you want to. Your voice matters. Shave what doesn’t serve you.
Billy Blue Jean’s signature style is effortlessly cool. Poems pour out of his soul and catch you with his dew claw. Don’t run out the door without your keys. This kid will always stop and remind you that there is something hanging in this cool pocket organizer that you should probably take with you. He’s only got helpful bones in his body.
Buddy
Buddy is the perfect side kick. He’s not up your butt like a coconut, but he does like to know what you are up to over there. He is probably wearing his favorite old school cool hand knit sweater! Just look at the pen he chooses to carry around with him. It’s timeless, but not out of touch. You can still buy ink and accessories for this bad boy! The trick is not to lose it.
Our friend is a “let’s go bro” sweetheart! He’s pulling out all the stops and writing them down in his Appointed planner. He’s always got the road trip planned out before he knows you are for sure coming so you can sit back, enjoy the ride, and laugh about how serious life can seem.
Buddy likes to map out and day dream about his travel days in this string tie notebook. He knows what you like and is asking you to trust him. The picnic is packed. The hashtag is thought out. The laughter is inevitable.
Carla + Diego
You can find Diego chasing a ball and Carla chasing Diego. These two start each day side by side. They share a goodmorning love cup moment every sunrise they get. Friendship is the best ship and these two have sailed through some murky waters.
They walk down the street in the afternoons like siblings on the way to school. Diego has his stuffy and Carla has her cool girl attitude. Who cares if their report card isn’t perfect? Their hearts are happy, their eyes are bright, and they like to watch the sun set on these hand printed cranes at night.
We are rooting for them to find their forever together. What full moon do you think will guide them home? All they want is a soft place to sleep and the comfort of each other.
Jane
Jane likes to press her nose up to this golden puzzle. It’s as cool as it is pretty. She’s not ready to take it apart, but she likes the look of it. It’s okay to not know Jack. We all start somewhere.
Discarded puppy mill mamas remind us how resilient we can be. Our girl is cool to hang out and watch your pet project come to life. Don’t let the past define your future. Take one deep breath at a time. Jane is very fond of The O’Keeffe Palette. It smells like it was made with love. Is there anything better than paint made with maple syrup?
Jane will let the ink flow when they are ready. We believe in her magic and can’t wait to see her live her best life. We bought her this school bus yellow fountain pen because Jane is going to blossom like a sunflower.
Macademia
Mac’s going to make you the best custom paper doll snow dog you’ve ever seen. What brings you joy brings her joy. Crisp, clean, and sharp cuts from small copper scissors make everything more iconic. How many outfits will the paper doll dog end up with? Only time will tell!
The girl next door is often overlooked at the beginning of the movie. Mac walked out of CACC with her life and has embraced her second shot at a happily ever after rom com moment without looking back. This Parisian recycled leather tote is perfect for looking like your poop is grouped (even if it’s not all together). She is walking to work and turning heads. A swan in the streets.
She’s got all her important treats in her zip up utility pouch. You can’t tell her she’s forgotten your favorite because she hasn’t. It’s clipped on! She is the kind of kind you wish everyone was.
Poppy
'Tis the season to relax. Poppy was found starved and surviving on a Chicago street. She’s glowing up like a rainbow on a cloud. Her body tells a hard to hear story, but we’re looking forward to seeing what the next chapter has in store. She’s got a John Hughes main character moment coming up and we can’t wait to see who shows up with a boombox. Don’t tell her, but we’re totally embossing this beautiful German notebook for her as a surprise. We love a metallic detail!
Pops loves to tuck our favorite date book under her arm. She loves to fill up her dance card. The future’s so bright you have to highlight the good times. There’s nothing better than a colorful commitment you can reschedule. Poppy shows up every day grateful, honest, and polite. She is such a dream. We’re still not quite sure she’s real.
Simone
Our girl has been waiting for her furever for what feels like forever, but that doesn’t stop her from chasing the water out of the hose. She’s got a light in her that is unbeatable. The Prairie Palette was made for looking out onto the horizon and finding the perfect place to sit and stay awhile. Simone is looking forward to seeing her prints on the wall!
Everything good takes time. Don’t forget to grab this classic sketchpad on your way out the door so you can turn back time and pretend like you were born in a different century. We love a company that has proven time and time again that they are good at what they do.
Simone has learned that life isn’t as scary as it used to seem. She is ready to be home home. She’s even got a utility knife on her in case you need it to open the champagne. We are all excited to celebrate her homecoming. Let’s help MCP find her her people. Sharing is caring.
Martha Mae
It’s nice to be important, but it’s more important to be nice. Martha – like the boss she is – went and dreamed up her own signature scent with our friends at Edgewater Candles. We’ll meet you in the library with a lighter. Martha’s den candle hits all the right notes.
Martha has a reputation of sweetness that proceeds her. Just being in the same room makes you feel like everything is going to be okay. She is the Dear Abby of West Town. Her advice is so good you don’t have to think twice about it. She’s got a gal for everything! And she doesn’t gatekeep. The ink she prefers is 12th century cool.
The deskside pad Martha brainstorms on stays put by design. Elegant, simple, smart and refillable. It’s as chic as it is handsome. Raise your paw if you love smooth paper rough drafts.
Here at Martha Mae, we pack each order with love and care, making sure it is delivered straight to your door or ready for pickup at our Outpost in West Town, Chicago.
If you're looking for a little something extra for your online orders, choose gift wrapping at checkout. Your selections will be wrapped and ready to be shared with your loved ones right out of the box.
More interested in wrapping gifts yourself? We get it, it's fun! Here is our gift-wrapping tutorial to give you some tips and tricks from the Martha Mae team.