Last year, I walked into Deafopia thinking, “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me. Am I really doing this?”
This year, I walked in flipping my hair like Sabrina Carpenter in “Looking at Me.”
Yes, I’m here. Yes, you should come over.
If you read Love Issues #08, you might remember how much convincing it took to get me there. I thought people would just look and keep walking. I didn’t want to stand behind a table waiting to be disappointed.
I knew coming back would feel different. I just didn’t realize how much. I look at last year’s photo and remember how awkward I felt. Every little thing required a pep talk.
This year, I had my best sales day yet. The Love Buzz PJ set got its second life, and somehow, everyone’s ready for pajamas again.
Okay, my friend was right. But it wasn’t all hair flips.
Around midday, things got quiet. Not for that long, but long enough for my brain to start running its mouth. I caught myself comparing my booth to the ones around me.
Next thing I knew, last-year me crashed the party uninvited, whispering, “Cute setup, shame about the foot traffic.”
I told that uninvited voice to sit down because I’m the bigger bitch.
So if you’re in the sweaty, “what the hell am I doing?” stage of something, I hope you give it another go. I’m glad someone talked me into it.
Just don’t tell her I said that. 🤫
The part that keeps me coming back is the people.
One of my favorite things was asking them what Lovecore means to them. There’s no right or wrong answer. I spend so much time thinking about that word, so it was fun to hear what came to mind for everyone else.
Then Andrea, my teammate, turned the question on me.
Fair. I needed a minute to answer my own question. 😅
Watch this reel to see my answer and Joey Caverly’s take. He was annoyingly good.
By 5pm, my feet had filed for divorce, I’d used up a week’s worth of small talk, and I was ready to stop forming thoughts.
I’ve never hugged so many people in a day.
I’ll be cheesy here. My heart was full.
I spend most of my time working on Lovecore at home. Getting to meet the people who connect with it, talk with them, and hug them in person means a lot to me.
Thank you to everyone who came over. For buying something, asking a question, or just saying hi. And to those who couldn’t make it, I hope we get to meet soon.
I’m so glad I came back.
So What’s the Takeaway?
The hugs were the business strategy all along.
Lovecore HQ: Quick Dopamine Hits
🗽 This Saturday, October 3: Big Apple ASL Festival at St. Joseph’s School for the Deaf in the Bronx. Free admission.
🍎 Next weekend, October 10–11: Mill Neck Apple Festival.
Come find the Lovecore booth and say hi. Hug if you’re a hugger. Admiring the clothes is also an acceptable greeting.
Can’t make it to either? You can still shop the collection here.
💋 Reader perk: Free Lovecore chapstick with any order through October 7th. Use code LOVEISSUES16 at checkout. Plus, free shipping on orders over $50.
Love looks good on you. Chapped lips don’t.
One Thing I’m Obsessed With This Month
(because I refuse to enjoy things alone)
🐝 Bumbleberry Farms. Deaf-owned, family-owned farm in Pennsylvania making honey-sweetened jams and spreads. My fave is their Hot Pepper Jam. I bought it in June at Deaf-A-Palooza, and my family demolished it before I got a second taste.
Looks like we like things spicy!
Their pumpkin spice is back for the season too. Go check them out and hide a jar for yourself.
What’s Next?
The next Love Issues will land at the end of October instead of the first. Let me actually live through the month before I tell you about it.
XO,
Nickie
P.S. Happy wildly premature Halloween. If stores can put skeletons out in August, I can say it on October 1st. 🫶🏼
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