Our family headed west to spend Mother’s Day weekend here in California. It had been a while and I was chomping at the bit to pull out my design creativity and host another table soon, so once I heard the news my excitement peaked and I was off to the races planning.

I knew that I wanted to use this tablecloth I sourced from HomeGoods again. I really adore it and the pattern reminds me of the south of France images I’ve seen plastered all over socials (side note - so excited that I’ll soon be able to see if my vision echos reality, we are going to France this summer). I wanted it to be relaxed and easygoing, not to create more stress but instead simply add more care to a menu I was excited to execute all on my own. I decided to incorporate these darling jam jars that make the perfect glass for a refreshing drink, my linen striped napkins, and faux stoneware melamine plates to keep cleanup easy and enough to set a table of 6. I leaned toward silverware instead of gold cutlery to keep it simplistic, and of course my wooden napkin rings.

Considering that I recycled all of these items from previous tables really kept the cost at a minimum, making this money conscious gal super pleased.

Next was the floral arrangement. Lucky for me Trader Joe’s was stocked for the holiday weekend and I got there before the rush. The workers in my local Trader Joe’s must think I’m mental, because I mosey around the flowers for so long, moving back and forth the aisles making sure I’m not missing anything and choosing the right combination for my floral recipe.

They usually have more of a selection this time of year so I was a bit surprised there wasn’t much variety to choose from for more premium flowers; I have a hunch that since we had a mild winter, plants started blooming and being cut earlier than usual. I ended up choosing a monochromatic color palette to try and create something interesting with garden roses, spray roses, and mini carnations. Normally I’d aim for a design that’s a bit softer, but sometimes you have to pivot and work with what you’ve got!

LE MENU

Since I was cooking all alone, I decided to make it as easy as humanly possible so I didn’t need to stand in the kitchen for hours and hours.

App: Ceviche from our local favorite

Salad: Taylor Farms Mediterranean Crunch Chopped Salad Kit

Entree: Ina Garten’s Curried Chicken Salad with rice and naan (one of my favorite recipes now!)

Dessert: Magnolia Table Volume I: Strawberry Shortcake (this was the only thing I was able to get a photo of, and it was what awarded me the most compliments and second rounds!)

Drinks: Cucumber Spritz Mocktail with Sanzo Yuzu With Ginger Sparkling Water

This was also the first time I was able to put the considered table planner to good use (you can grab one here)! It was so helpful as I was planning over multiple days and I just loved what everyone shared at the end of the meal. I may be a biased, but personally I think it’s the perfect way to keepsake the little moments that matter most we may otherwise forget.

Buy the considered table Here

Hours and hours of heart and perhaps some tears went into this journal and planner duo, I am ecstatic to announce that she is now published and out for purchase on Amazon!

Grab a copy here!

See below photos for what’s inside!

I’m so proud of this labor of love and hope to get it into the hands of those that would appreciate using it. If I can please ask for your help in spreading the word it would mean so much! The best and easiest ways to help are:

1. Share it with your friends and family - feel free to forward this newsletter!

2. Re-stack if you’re viewing on Substack, so I have the chance to reach more of the Substack audience.

3. If you know anyone who enjoys hosting around the table - whether that’s table top styling, coming up with some delicious recipes in the kitchen to share, or just organizing details - please consider adding a copy or a few to your shopping cart for the holidays. Cyber Monday is just around the corner!

4. If you’ve purchased a copy, pretty please leave a review and ask the person you’ve gifted it to, to do the same. This will tremendously help other Amazon shoppers know the product is legitimate and made by a human (and small business might I add).

The Considered Table would make a great stocking stuffer, Secret Santa gift, housewarming gift, book swap, or wrapped and placed under the tree!

*Please note that this is a print on demand book, meaning it will take some time to reach you after purchasing (est. one week in the U.S.). Make sure to snag a copy well before you see the recipient if you are gifting it for the holidays.

If you’ve made it this far, thank you for reading and happy shopping!

Grab a copy here!

My first collaboration project last October was with someone I met on Instagram briefly - in the same industry circle - for her anniversary photoshoot. V had these really unique vases purchased from Oaxaca and wanted to get some photos of them for a personal project and was looking for a florist. I jumped on the opportunity as she was scouting locations near my house and i’ve been craving to get involved in a styled shoot.

I was newer to this industry and was so nervous. We had very little time to prepare, it was a last minute idea; we connected a week out and she had a vision for what she wanted. V sent over a few inspiration photos alongside a few photos of some of the dishes she planned on bringing from her collection. The inspiration photos were filled with neutral tones and she wanted to incorporate moss which I have no experience working with, but was up for the challenge. We talked about keeping it very clean and simple. The idea was a beautiful one I agreed, but based on the photos of the vases and plates she sent over wanting to accessorize with black I just knew that the flowers would get lost rather than compliment and enhance the tablescape, especially if it were a white tablecloth.

When I went to the flower market I was searching for nudes and whites, maybe some big leafy greens. I started to form my vision for the table but then out of the corner of my eye a fitting deep red variety of Alstromeria caught my attention and I knew from that moment that we needed to go more moody. I ended up taking V’s vision and adding a little twist with a flower that I normally use for filler becoming quite perfect harmonious company.

Now don’t think this preparation was the same as the wedding I just completed and put 9 months into so that everything would turn out perfect, there were hurdles to overcome once on site. I had bought new frogs I had never used and they weren’t sticking to the bottom of the vases which I wasn’t expecting. I didn’t have putty on hand so we had to improvise, luckily we were standing on a beach full of sand and I found a few small rocks to help weigh down the mechanics. I didn’t have time to figure out how to work with the moss I had purchased since sunset was in half an hour and we needed to move fast. In the end, the vases and plates she brought for me to incorporate my florals in were very different than those I had originally seen. For a Type A perfectionist human this completely threw me off! To add to it, the table was much larger than I had anticipated and since we all knew we didn’t have enough for the table to look full, we switched the angle of how everything was placed and positioned so that the photographer could shoot the best frame.

In the end we all worked together and produced some results I couldn’t be happier with - the tablescape turned out just as I had envisioned after having to pivot on the spot. This just goes to show you that sometimes less truly is more. Enjoy photography by Baswini and tablescape by Vinisha and myself. I love the moodiness of the theme, it perfectly fits with Halloween and Day of the Dead!

If you enjoy this newsletter & would like to show a token of support, buy me a coffee or hit subscribe below!

We went glamping with our family in the Texas hill country this weekend. Although it didn’t feel like we had enough time to spend together and wind down (we only stayed two nights), it was a beautiful reunion having both sides of our family there and celebrating my mother-in-law’s birthday. When we started planning the trip earlier in the year I knew I wanted to create a styled table for her and the rest of my family to enjoy and make her birthday celebration even more special.

As I was out sourcing for a different table, I came across this stunning tablecloth. It instantly reminded me of home and the southwest, with colors vibrant and reflective of nature with a pop of turquoise like I’d seen in Native American works before. I knew there would be the perfect time and place for it, so I snagged it before someone else did.

Over the next few months I slowly started building my vision of what I wanted this table to look like, based on the direction I was going and using the tablecloth as my starting source of inspiration. I now live in California, but born and raised a cowgirl from west Texas; these themes are easy for me and really bring some nostalgic emotions with them. I knew I wanted a natural clay to be incorporated somehow and use some succulents for the floral aspect since the southwest tends to be a dry, hot desert. I already had some perfectly matched napkins from another fall country table I created last year, so that element was easy.

My MIL actually gifted us these cute little copper coasters that were handmade she brought back from Chile, and since she’s Chilean I thought it would give the perfect extra little personalized detail to connect the table style to her even further.

Now there was just one BIG hurdle in between me and this perfectly planned southwestern styled table I’d transferred from a vision in my brain to a physical product - we were flying into Texas for the celebration. That meant I had to prepare earlier than usual by pre-ironing all the cloth elements while praying I could quickly source some plants after we landed. I didn’t have control over the dishware, but since I am very Type A, I called the resort ahead of time and asked them to take photos of what was available to us in our tents and cabins. Luckily all the colors and patterns flowed together and complimented each other beautifully - even down to the Yeti cups.

Lastly, I wanted to create a postcard for all my guests to take home and remember this weekend by, so I created one with the menu included and used it as a place card for the table as well. For the artwork, I sourced a photo of the river we’d be enjoying and created a painting of it for an extra memory of all the fun to be had.

These last few years decorated candlesticks have become super popular and I am obsessed with all the cuteness, so I took the initiative to attempt to paint some plants on the candles - the result gave the table a lot more personality and I am so happy with the final outcome!

If you enjoy this newsletter & would like to show a token of support, buy me a coffee or hit subscribe below!

Subscribe now

If you’ve gotten to know me for more than a few hours, you probably know that I constantly talk about Italy and how much I love it, in fact I plan to retire there someday. I’m only 1% Italian (according to Ancestry.com), but that one percent really outshines the rest! So when I was out in search of completely different resources I spotted this perfect light yellow, tinted linen tablecloth and instantly knew exactly what I was going to put it to use for and when - an Italian Coastal themed tablescape set on the beach in the summer, to dine al fresco with dear friends.

I had it all planned out in my head half a year prior to the time I was to execute my vision and I couldn’t wait for warmer, longer days to arrive. I wanted the table to be simple, summery, and lux feeling, yet remain as close to a real version of what we’d use setting up an al fresco table in Italy on a warm summer afternoon. I had the perfect outdoor melamine dining plates, cool beige striped napkins, basic silverware, new minimalist glassware, and a beautiful green spackled large bowl - made in Italy - for the floral arrangement.

I found some amazing lemon citronella candles that I had to make the week leading up to our event, the perfect additional accessory for the table theme and oh so useful once the sun starts to set. My idea for the floral arrangement was going to be more diverse, but when I saw these stunning fresh Hydrangeas I knew I had to challenge myself to finally work with the flower and see what I could create. Once I took a step back from the final product I instantly fell in love.

The last bit to tackle was the food. We have a favorite restaurant in our town that we keep going back to for this refreshing, light lemon pasta they offer. I looked up the ingredients and we attempted to recreate it for our friends alongside a refreshing Strawberry Lemon Sparkler and this incredibly easy but delightful Apple Prosciutto Balsamic appetizer.

The time came to put everything together and the day we chose was a bit too chilly, windy, and partly cloudy…too unpredictable for us to chance going to the beach to have everything blow away and be uncomfortable. My full vision wasn’t able to come to life this time around; we opted to set up in the backyard instead for a much more enjoyable experience with the relief that we didn’t have to tote everything but a few steps. Our friends really appreciated the effort we put into hosting and the time we spent together was cherished. Love truly is in the details.

If you enjoy this newsletter & would like to show a token of support, buy me a coffee!

I LOVE love, which means I am also obsessed with weddings. Don’t call me crazy but I’m the kind of person that will spend hours watching random people’s wedding content on YouTube and Instagram, at times even shed a tear or a few…the vows were just too good or that first look that was everything.

The first wedding I was hired to pour myself into was for the sweetest couple I happen to know. They remembered that I was working in floristry and looking to start my own business and approached me to gauge my interest to which my internal response was a resounding PLEASE HIRE ME, while my external response was more like “I’d be honored!”

Subscribe now

Once we established their style, vision, and budget over hours of phone calls I went to town on starting to design in which I ended up designing a tablescape and three different styles of bouquets each containing a different flower selection. Three is a little excessive but this was my first paid gig and I wanted to get this perfect for my friend to give her her dream wedding. The first mock up was great, the shape was right but the color palette was all wrong. She wanted no color at all (including greenery) and solid white flowers. I knew this was going to be a challenge but drove one hour back to the wholesale market to search for new product a few weeks later.

My design wasn’t all about flowers so I will also note that I put a TON of hours behind closed doors into meticulously planning every detail of the tablescape. If you think designing a mindful luxury tablescape with different candles and have never really looked into the subject on a larger scale, it’s a whole different animal. There are different sizes and lengths of every piece to consider, sleeves to cover open flames if needed (which by the way are not cheap), and styles. Thinking I was going to get out easy was a joke on myself.

The second mock up followed the specific feedback but based on flora availability over the wedding date and the final look of the bouquet, the bride decided that what she originally wanted wasn’t what she wanted after all, and proceeded to give me full reign on design after a review of the tablescape and thorough explanation of my plan moving forward. At this point full trust in my experience, judgement, and capabilities was handed over - a stress that I was more than happy to receive! In my heart I knew that design wasn’t quite it and from this moment forward she was going to receive exactly what was envisioned.

I’d describe the design as timeless, modern, minimalist, and soft with a touch of romance. Tablescape and bridesmaid florals were all Lisianthus and bridal bouquet florals consisted of Lisianthus, Tweedia, Alstromeria, and Sweet Pea. I am so happy with the results and couldn’t be more honored to have a big hand in making their day special. Ecstatic to report that my clients were as well!

If you enjoy this newsletter & would like to show a token of support, buy me a coffee!

I love finding inspiration for my designs from all corners of life, a good chunk comes from my world travels but nothing is off limits. When we purchased our first home I knew I wanted to get some luxurious wallpaper to permanently plaster on one highlight wall to add a level of interest and bring some fun in. I found the perfect wallpaper to suit our style with a flavorful color palette that compliments my marriage of décor styles. Long story short, we had to leave the place soon after moving in (a dramatic story for another day) and return to our renter lifestyle of impermanence.

Subscribe now

Jumping ahead I was recently browsing through my bookstack to see if there was anything I could part with and decided to open up one of my old Interior Design books, Three Birds Renovations. As I was flipping through pages I gathered so much inspiration for my next table. Much of these Aussie designs are effortlessly minimalist, a bright yet neutral color palette, simple and clean lines, mixed wood tones and woven materials, natural textures and subtly playful.

Using inspiration from their signature design qualities and pulling in lots of tropical greenery, hints of tropical flowers and blush accents; a few slates of leftover wallpaper hung as décor in our new home turned out to be the perfect backdrop. With the girly twist in palette this was the perfect opportunity to host a Galentine Gathering - consider it your next theme for all your best mates!

Design work takes a lot of time and effort; it is a true art form. I ask that if you enjoy this newsletter, have utilized my design, or would like to show a token of appreciation - click here to gift a coffee!

A couple I am very close to made plans to host their baby shower in Texas to bring together as many family and friends as possible. They desperately needed a visionary and some guidance in planning the shower, I happily stepped up to the plate and volunteered to help.

The mother-to-be has always dreamed of going to France, but has yet to set foot. Once we discussed theme and went over some dislikes, I decided this could be the perfect opportunity to bring a little slice of France to her in the meantime. Seeing as they are having a boy, it was the perfect opportunity to bring in the beautiful blue patterned plates that can be found there, here, and everywhere.

Their requests were extremely simple: no green, teddy bears, balloons, and it was assumed as small of a budget as possible - I got to work on the design immediately. I instantly knew based on who they are and with baby on the way I wanted the design to be useful; products they would like and be able to reuse at a later date. I needed every detail possible to be disposable to eliminate extra work for clean up. I wouldn’t recommend doing so for typical designs, but I catered toward their specific needs in this phase of life and personalities, we sourced just about everything from Amazon to make the process as simple as possible.

I went in blind which was incredibly nerve bending for an extremely detail-oriented perfectionist, not physically seeing any of the items we purchased until I arrived in Texas just two days before the event and over a holiday. I’ll nod to my research, dedication, and professionalism because everything turned out beautiful! For florals I used white Lilies on the tables and a combination of Lilies and Peonies on the Appetizer & Gift Tables.

The beautiful results below, designed from half way across the US.

The couple also requested an Instagramable area for everyone to take photos so we used some life sized baby blocks, based filled with greenery, used pattern printed Chinese lanterns inside the blocks and hung above, adding some twinkle lights for an extra accent once the sun went down - the result was darling.

Product Links

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases (not all links qualify for earnings). As I focus on growing my business any little bit of support helps (at no extra cost to you) and is greatly appreciated.

Floral Blue Plates
White Flower Plates
Napkins
Blue Bows
Chinese Lanterns
Baby Blocks
Forks & Spoons
Drinkware
Dusty Blue Table Runners
Flower Vases
Tealights
Tealight Candle Vases
Twinkle Lights

Design work takes a lot of time and effort; it is a true art form. I ask that if you enjoy this newsletter, have utilized my design, or would like to show a token of appreciation - click here to gift a coffee!

I know i’m a bit late on this one, but I also know that this year has completely flown by (particularly the last few months of the year) and along with many others we felt behind. Some are still probably spending needed quality time with family; whether you are done with socializing or not, I hope you may be able to take something away for a gathering in the future.

The breakfast offering was proteins, and pancakes with a toppings bar. To match what the simple table spread would bring, my idea was to create a simple and slightly quirky design (yet still remain tasteful) to incorporate on the breakfast table. As you’ve seen bows were extra popular this year so it was only fitting to include one in the design, plus I’m warming up to bow designs more each day. Before I started designing, I had the basic plan and layout in mind consisting of a wrap around flowy red bow and a steaming coffee mug with pancakes topped with butter at the bottom corner. I wanted a smidge of variety in the font, yet not to overdo it so the design still remained refined. After sourcing the elements I tied it all together to create this cute little breakfast menu!

Design work takes a lot of time and effort; it is a true art form. I ask that if you enjoy this newsletter, have utilized my design, or would like to show a token of appreciation - click here to gift a coffee!

All white - a classic style, it’s no wonder why many brides over the years have chosen the simple palette for their wedding. I think the same rings true for holiday parties and homes, you can never go wrong with choosing a simple color combination because it’s sure to stand the test of time and continue to not feel outdated with every passing decade.

The first item I discovered was sparking the theme within me was coupe glassware. Simple, elegantly rimmed in gold with a contemporary ribbed twist to make them fancy enough to deserve a spot at the table. I already envisioned half of what I wanted this table to look like just with one item purchased. Once I found these STUNNING, luxurious gold plated plates everything else quickly fell into place and I started to string it all together.

I folded the napkins into bows, added some mini scalloped table lamps I adore, and scouted out florals choosing Pine Branches, Red Garden Roses, and Ginestra. The last element I wanted to add was just a hint of color, but not overdo it making it feel too over the top. I found this rich wine colored velvet ribbon and knew this was going to be a statement table.

This table could work for any winter holiday - Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukah, New Years…it even works for Valentine’s Day!

Designing takes a lot of time and effort; it is a true art form. I ask that if you enjoy this newsletter or have utilized products in my design & would like to show a token of appreciation, click here to buy me a coffee (or two)!

The holidays are my most favorite time of the year; yes I enjoy receiving thoughtful gifts (especially the unexpected) but what I truly enjoy even more is soaking in all the joy and care that is passed around, meals and memories that are shared, and community that is fostered. We haven’t spent Christmas at home for the last few years, but every chance we can we invite out closest circle of friends into our little townhome for an enjoyable ambiance and some quality time.

Lately I have felt very connected to my roots, much more-so than ever, and I really wanted to honor that subtly in the design. Growing up in the countryside over my childhood most things were kept pretty simple. I wanted to remain careful not to overpower the natural beauty of the pine and instead added a dash of personality with small accents. I started with creating a table runner out of loose branches to compliment the fresh cut fir left bare and add a few ornaments. Since bows are very much “in” this year I couldn’t resist by adding a few on the candlesticks for an uncomplicated touch.

This design is super affordable for those who don’t have a budget to put towards a tablescape but want to create something special. Dinnerware doesn’t need to be elaborate and even the most basic colors and styles will do. You can pick up free tree trimmings at your local tree lot to create a nature-infused ambiance that can also be re-used atop the mantle after you are done hosting.

Designing takes a lot of time and effort; it is a true art form. I ask that if you enjoy this newsletter or have utilized products in my design & would like to show a token of appreciation, click here to buy me a coffee (or two)!

It feels like i’m on the trend train right now, but I guess i’m just loving everything that’s current and popular which in my opinion is WAY better than not liking any options that are trendy and cool, which in turn trickle down into every other creative vertical you can imagine.

Although typically i’m more of a lush and natural kinda gal when it comes to floral displays, for some reason lately i’ve also been into more minimalist design and finding creative ways to display a few stems seamlessly blending simplicity with luxury.

When I think of the French countryside I think of the typical Willow Pattern you see everywhere. It has currently taken over Interior Design and anything patterned similarly immediately transports me outside the “bubble” I live in. For my foundation of this tablescape I found this stunning tablecloth that I instantly knew I needed - a perfect combo of a neutral linen you’d find French or Italian home tables covered in with classic spirit in a lovely shade of dusty blue.

Since the cloth is so busy it was smart to find tableware that complimented and did not distract or clash with the beautiful bustling pattern. The French have this way about doing design that is so effortless and simple yet so chic. I knew there needed to be feminine touches that didn’t overpower so the ambiance would still remain mature. The chairs and French door in the backdrop compliment the design even further. Once I found the right vessel and chose a beautiful deep violet Lisianthus my vision was complete; this design really came to life and I just could not wait to put the table together!

If you enjoy this newsletter & would like to show a token of support, buy me a coffee!

As I was planning out my business so many ideas came flooding through, but the first table I knew I wanted to “officially” host was a cowboy themed dinner party, a nod to my roots.

This was an easy start as I already had many items on hand to set a perfect scene, all I needed were some fitting plates I ended up purchasing on Etsy that came rooted with a little history; a daily table staple in an Ohio farmer’s life.

Once I had the plates in hand, everything else smoothly fell together, from the different textures used woven within the details of the cotton napkins, leather placemats, wooden steak knives, clay serving bowls, and glassware to abundant fall floral textures running the table.

Cowboys are known to create nightly campfires when they are out on the trail, gathering together to socialize and enjoy some grub, eating foods out of cans and whatever else they can find on hand. They endure some of the toughest work out in the lands setting a simplistic lifestyle so I wanted that to translate into this luxury design by using some items you may have seen or used growing up in the country with basic plate and flatware. To complete my vision I chose to serve some good ol BBQ from one of the best local spots complete with iced tea, just as I was raised on.

I feel like I should have more to say about this design, perhaps I don’t because it came together so effortlessly and naturally. I’m so excited to share the photography from my Western-Cowboy themed Dinner Party, incorporating the most beautiful tablescape with floral arrangements designed with Light Brown Lisianthus, Wax Flowers, Dahlias, Chocolate Cosmos, and Amaranthus.

If you enjoy this newsletter & would like to show a token of support, buy me a coffee!

I’d like to go back and reminisce on the first floral workshop I ever attended, because it completely changed the direction I thought I wanted to go towards for my future, the memory is permanently stamped in my brain. As I was exploring all the different options for business owning careers surrounded by flowers, my thoughtful husband gifted me the workshop ticket for my birthday. I mean it when I say that I have never felt so seen in my lifetime, it brought me to tears.

In March ‘24 I attended my first workshop - held in my beautiful city of San Juan Capistrano. Going in I wasn’t sure what to expect or what I would take out of it but I was eager to enhance my floral skills and learn how to work with some new, bigger mechanics I had never had the chance to work with before.

It was a rainy, chilly, and gloomy day but we played off the ambiance the weather prescribed us and turned on the wood burning stove situated in the courtyard to make the best of it.

Starting with our individual designs we were gifted a beautiful compote from Oh Flora - I have to say this is my all time favorite vase to use when designing, I just bought a second. We started off with going around the room introducing ourselves, voicing what we were hoping to get out of the workshop and setting our intentions. There was a beautiful curated “market” of flowers boasting from darling baskets that we essentially “shopped” to find the floral varieties we craved to design with; I choose almost all new flowers I had never worked with before - Tulips, Sweet Peas, Orlaya, and Cherry Blossom and got to work on an arrangement more familiar. Once we were all finished with our works of art we set them aside to be photographed later in the day.

Next up was a cute challenge involving an egg hunt to draw numbers for both odd shaped vessels and grocery store flowers, creating a design using those elements primarily plus the option to use one supporting flower. I drew Alstromeria which happens to be one of my favorites, and chose Dogwood to compliment it to create more drama with my tall vase housing a very small opening. We all gathered around the final products to discuss what we were able to create and the difficulties we overcame.

The best was definitely saved for last, as we were tasked to work together and use what was left over of the flower market to create a springing ground floral arrangement. Each of us took our own mechanics, created the sturdy bases filled with Olive Branches and Eucalyptus and then placed them surrounding the outer side of our dining table. Once we made sure they all looked fluid and in sync we took ownership of needed roles to fill the blossoming arrangement with Cherry Blossom, yellow Garden Roses and yellow Ranunculus. The result turned out to be stunning.

After all the hard work and play throughout the day, we we able to sit down and dine al fresco together sharing stories, laughter, and encouragement as we relished in our luxury creation and filled our bellies.

These are some of my most favorite photos and memories captured by Valerie, organized by Floraltique, styled by Sunday Gathering, dessert by Honey & Gather and created by each of us: Hyssop Floral, Aster & Gold, Studio Bloem Co., & myself.

If you enjoy this newsletter & would like to show a token of support, buy me a coffee!