This is a touching guest blog post by Courtney Thomas, a long time customer of Alison Rose Vintage. She writes about her father, fall memories, and the power of handwritten cards to keep love and connection alive. I hope her tender, powerful reflections speak to you as deeply as they did to me.

Whether it’s welcoming the new season, celebrating a holiday, or just sharing a sweet thought, there’s a card for every fall occasion from Alison Rose Vintage. 

As we head into the cozier months of of the year, here are ways to make fall the season of the soul through moments of gratitude or connecting with nature and loved ones.

For my 40th birthday, I received a beautiful love letter from my friend with forty things she loves about me. I wanted to share her words with you for two reasons: to remind all of us that showing up does make a difference, and to give you an example of the most unforgettable birthday gift you can give someone.

Hope isn’t about pretending everything is fine or turning away from what’s hard. It’s about facing reality with courage, connection, and care. It’s about noticing the small, meaningful things that anchor us and offering those sentiments to others when they need them most.

Read 5 small yet powerful ways to hold on to hope and share it with others...

When a customer named Lani ordered a custom love letter print for her mom this past Mother’s Day, I had no idea how moved I would be by her story. What began as a thoughtful gift led me to discover Love, Lani—a project where Lani writes little notes of encouragement and leaves them out in the world for strangers to find. In this guest blog post, Lani shares how her journey through trauma and healing became a mission of radical empathy and kindness.

There are some graduation gifts that go beyond the expected and make a new graduate feel truly seen and celebrated. From handwritten letters to meaningful books, each of the personalized and unique gift ideas in this blog post provides a special way to say I’m so very proud of you.

When I think about the origin story of Alison Rose Vintage, my Great Aunt Audrey’s name deserves to be etched in stone at the very beginning. She was my first pen-pal, my confidant and cheerleader, and a lifelong example of thoughtfulness and connection. Read more about our relationship and how her legacy carries on through this business.

In this blog post, Erin Slivka shares her deeply personal journey through grief after losing her 6-year-old daughter, Ayla. She reflects on how grief arrived as something heavy and unrelenting but has since evolved—not disappearing, but transforming from fear into a lasting expression of love. Through the ups and downs, she has learned that grief is not just sorrow; it is a companion that reminds us of the depth of our connection and love. 

By taking time to understand and practice self-love and self-care, you have the opportunity to achieve genuine self-acceptance and happiness. Practicing self-love and self-care might seem overwhelming or impossible at first, but you can see progress and benefits by starting small. Read this blog post for ideas.