Shining the Blogger Spotlight on Small Business - Part II

When I needed a place to host my book launch party for "The Adventures of Runnergirl 1953," womanpreneur extraordinaire Paula Romero Dunbar, who had just followed her dream by opening Paper Fiesta, warmly opened her doors and her heart to host the celebration. She lovingly decorated her store inside and out with yellow and blue balloons and ordered cupcakes, cookies and water for the guests to enjoy.



We have shopped at her store during the past two years to turn ordinary celebrations into a fiesta. When she had to temporarily close her doors, she moved to face time shopping and shipping orders to her customers.

Paula is the daughter of immigrants who followed her bliss taking a leap of faith to create Paper Fiesta. We want to keep her dream alive. You can reach her at paula@paperfiesta.com or calling her at 508-545-1059. Tom posted this on Facebook: Look what came in the mail!! I called Paula Romero-Dunbar owner of Natick’s beloved Paper Fiesta store, gave her my price range and she texted me a picture of the items - no spoiler alerts Mary McManus, as she wrote on the box “Do not open until May10th!”


Paula's husband is Walter Dunbar, an Emergency Responder for the City of Boston. On April 15, 2013, he ran toward the finish line and right now he is in the front lines of caring for those during the pandemic. He doesn't go home at night out of concern for his family's well being. Paula manages caring for her older parents, her two children and keeping her dream alive! You can support her by making purchases or purchasing gift cards to use when she reopens!

Indie bookstores make up the very fiber of our neighborhoods and during this time need our support now more than ever! Brookline Booksmith was one of the first paperback bookstores in the country established in November 1961. While I miss hearing the creak of the wooden floor under my feet when I browse the shelves at Brookline Booksmith, or the sound of children's feet running to the children's section of the store, I can still enjoy browsing through their on line offerings. When we place an order on line, they always send a lovely thank you note in response to our order. Summertime is a great time for reading and now is the perfect time to get your beach reads. Yes I am an eternal optimist and believe we will be back on the beaches this summer!


In the small town of Simsbury, Connecticut, Jane Siegel, daughter-in-law of Bernie Siegel opened the doors to Wisdom of the Ages in 1997 as a continuation of a dream she'd had since she was little, spurred on by her parent's spirituality. Today, she runs it alongside her son Charlie (who was 3 years old when she opened the store!), working as a team to bring you spirituality, healing, meditation and inspiration to boost and uplift your personal potential for awesomeness. We have ordered a crystal singing bowl, books and meditation CD's from them through the years. Since they have had to temporarily close their doors to customers, we responded to a post Charlie made on Facebook suggesting we come up with general ideas and price range for what we'd like to order and then he would put together a Mystery Box. We were thrilled with the book, the Serenity banner, his beautiful greeting cards with his photography on the front and beautiful stones to help with calm and raising energy.


Charlie and Jane have wonderful ideas for Mothers Day Gifts:


Reach out to Charlie at 860-593-2146 and nourish yourself and those you love with their beautiful array of products.

May is a month that is supposed to be overflowing with celebrations with Mother's Day, graduations and Springtime birthdays; Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, fund raisers, galas and special events. Rachel G. Events, LLC has over 20 years of experience managing and executing special events. She is finding new and creative ways to adapt her business to the current climate. Listen to her interview on Podcast 617 as she talks about the future of events. Rachel is one to pay it forward. She runs as a charity runner to raise money for Boston Childrens Hospital and despite the state of uncertainty for her small business, she continues to pay it forward to help support her vendors and uplift others with ways to celebrate.

Rachel G Events presents.....
LAWN SiGNS FOR ALL OUR NEEDHAM GRADUATES! 🎓🎓🎓🎓
5th grade, 8th grade, High School Seniors & general one for all of us to show our support of our amazing graduates!
Proceeds to benefit BIDMC-Needham & Needham Community Council’s Programs. Order today for your graduate, friend, relative, neighbor!
Email: rachelgevents@gmail.com to place your order (include type of sign & address)
Free delivery! and she is expanding this to include other towns.


MAY BIRTHDAY?!?!
Rachel G Events can help you celebrate! Lawn signs and decor to brighten the birthday person’s day! 🎈🎈🎈
Contact RGE to order: rachelgevents@gmail.com


During these unprecedented times, rituals and rites of passage have been radically changed. There is someone available to help you navigate these uncharted waters....Kristabeth Atwood who is the small business owner of Rites of Passage, LLC. has 20 years of experience in spiritual care, ritual design, and officiating. She serves Vermont and surrounding communities, and Spiritual Care Sessions and Consulting Services are available through Video-Chat. She offers a One Minute Thought for the Day on Facebook and Instagram which invites us to start our day with a quote for reflection. I find these offerings to be a wonderful way to uplift and inspire me.


Kristabeth took a leap of faith and left her career as a parish minister to create Rites of Passage, LLC. Like many small businesses, she is experiencing the effects of the pandemic yet continues to find creative ways to serve and nourish her business and all who are blessed to know her. From Kristabeth's website: "I believe the transitions of our lives provide rich opportunities for growth, healing, and transformation. I’ve experienced it myself and I’ve witnessed it in the people I’ve worked with over the past 20 years. Yet, often we avoid transition, or just grit our teeth to get through because change is hard.

That’s why, in my work as a Ritual Designer, Officiant and Spiritual Caregiver, I walk with people through the transitions in their lives." You can reach Kristabeth by phone at 802-825-8141 or via email at ritesofpassagevt@gmail.com.

When my husband Tom had a knee injury from running, we debated how to proceed with his care. I had seen a Facebook post among my runner friends about George Leung of East/West Sports Acupuncture. We bypassed the traditional Western medicine route of having diagnostic tests and referral for physical therapy and scheduled an appointment with George. Six treatments later, Tom was back on the roads crossing the finish line of the Bermuda 10K feeling fine and at the top of his game. He goes for treatments whenever he feels the need. Our daughter threw her back out a few weeks before the Hyannis 10K. We knew exactly what to do! After two treatments she was up and running again crossing the finish line in Hyannis and is now training for the Cape Cod Half Marathon.

During the initial phase of the pandemic, George had so many cancellations that he closed his business for a few weeks. Fortunately he is considered an essential business and was able to reopen but people have been concerned about returning for care. George takes "out of an abundance of caution" to a whole new level. He is only seeing one patient at a time and has a one way entrance and exit to the treatment room. He wears a mask, gloves and a lab coat. East/West Sports Acupuncture & Orthopaedics, LLC unique approach integrates both Traditional Chinese Medicine (acupuncture) and Western orthopedics and sports medicine methods (athletic training and physical therapy); acupuncture, rehabilitation, and the kinesiology taping method together to holistically treat each individual's injury or condition. At East/West Sports Acupuncture & Orthopaedics, LLC the practitioner is experienced and educated in using the latest evidenced based research acupuncture, rehabilitation, and taping techniques to provide a positive outcome in patient's recovery. You can contact George at (617) 447-5919 or gleung@ewsportsacupuncture.com



During these extraordinary times, it is vital we take care of ourselves, our loved ones and our communities. It is a time to embody the spirit of "we're in this together" and for those of us who have the means, to support our small businesses that make up the very fabric of our lives.

Remember please:


From my heart to yours
In health and wellness
With love and peace
Mary

Be sure to visit my website to learn more about my inspirational journey from a wheelchair to the finish line of the Boston Marathon and beyond!

My books are available on Amazon.