I’ve been trying to get this journal post out, but it’s not my fault that it is summer! We just went on a short road trip, and I decided not to take the computer, always nice to take a break from work computer and home computer!  But, now back to work with no major time-off planned. So still very busy, but also committed to moving Sue’s Secrets forward.

Well I have to admit that I have a little secret of my own…I’m not that great with social media! I had never used instagram before until I started our Sue’s Secrets account. I have not posted anything for weeks, so definitely delinquent on that front. I know if we want to give Sue’s Secrets a proper try, we have to find our people out there in the world of social media. It is truly ironic, not just a black fly in your chardonay ironic. The need for social media to find those who will appreciate the old-school snail mail way.

While it’s my least favourite part of this process, it is necessary and it will essentially make or break this project. So wish me luck on my social media endeavours! I am confident we will find some like-minded kitchen friends, cooks and bakers, and those who will enjoy our stories delivered in hand every month. Please help us by sharing our posts when they come out, that alone would be amazing. I will admit there’s a little dopamine hit when you see a like, heart, or share ;)

What actual progress have we made on our journey you ask? Fundamental to the Sue’s Secrets concept is the recipes! Mom and I have brainstormed and the list is even longer than we thought. We have well over 100 recipes! So that checks off that requirement lol. If all goes well, there’s quite a few years of content, an essential ingredient! I love the idea of being able to do this over the next few years, which may feel a bit like a pipe dream right now, but that’s ok, have to start somewhere!

We made some decisions about the format and how to go about issuing the recipes. We’ve spent some time organizing the recipes into various collections and thinking through how best to set up the mail subscription. Each year several recipes from each collection will be mailed out. For example, soups are in the Soup Pot collection, and the mains are in the Comfort Kitchen collection. There are seven collections in total. You will want to collect them all!

There’s lots of advice out there about not overthinking things and not taking too long to plan before launching. And we do want to avoid that scenario and get things moving. However, spending a couple nights thoughtfully planning out the collections was well worth it and necessary for an intentional approach.

I have also been creating some templates for staying organized, and working on the design for the print layout, one of my favourite parts of the process. I’ve purchased some nice heavy weight paper, coloured envelopes, and fun stamps. We are going for the larger format envelope as the recipe collections will be printed on the heavy paper and should not be folded. The idea with our collections is to slip the recipe pages into plastic sleeves for safe keeping and to store them together in a pretty recipe book binder, remember they are “recipes worth keeping”.

I have purchased a charming binder with a floral design for myself, which has just arrived! And I am doing more research on binders and designs so that we can offer them as part of a starter kit or an add-on later. Seems like an ideal set-up right ;) The collection will feel special, and therefore it requires a special place to keep it all tucked away together. A place you enjoy going to time and time again.

Also, Mom and I have been talking about Sue’s Secrets and what actually makes it special. At its heart, yes, there are recipes, but its the whole package that creates a unique and enjoyable experience. Each month the recipe package is sent with a personal letter, which is a chance to get to know Sue (and me), her love of cooking, her unique work experiences and memories, and the family stories that have shaped us. The recipes become more meaningful because they come with the people and moments behind them. Then there are the little details, beautiful designs, thoughtfully chosen stationary, and special surprises tucked inside each envelope. We hope opening Sue’s Secrets feels like a letter from a friend and nothing less.

I do keep asking myself who Sue's Secrets is for. The truth is, I'm not sure. Maybe they're someone who loves to cook. Maybe they don't cook much at all but enjoy family stories. Maybe they collect recipes, send birthday cards, press flowers into books, or simply miss the days when checking the mailbox was exciting. If opening a thoughtfully prepared envelope would brighten your day, then I have a feeling you'll feel right at home here.

As I mentioned in my first journal, I wanted to subscribe to a mail club myself as there are many out there, and it’s a fun little treat I will receive just for me. And I have chosen one from a local artist on Vancouver Island, whose focus is the natural world. I should receive my first one in August and I will share with you my little envelope goodies.

Well time to shove off and get busy. Until next time …

Your friends in the kitchen,

Sheila & Sue

You’re receiving this because you signed up for Sue’s Secrets journal, thanks for being here with us 😍