01/10/2022
Hello everyone, and welcome to New Life Hygge! First of all, I would like to say thank you so much for being here! Second, since you're here, I would really appreciate you taking the time to read about what I'm doing and why I started this business.
My story begins as a young girl in rural Illinois. I grew up absolutely in love with animals and could always be found watching Animal Planet instead of cartoons on Saturday morning. I stumbled across the show Dogs 101 and began taking notes on each of the dog breeds they discussed. Eventually, I began watching Pitbulls and Parolees and quickly found myself falling head over heels in love with the misunderstood breed.
Fast forward a few years to my family's move to South Carolina. I discovered my love and passion for photography, which introduced me to many photographers that travel to some of the most exotic and isolated places on Earth. One place that constantly captures my attention is Iceland. I'm fascinated by its diverse landscapes and harsh weather, as well as its culture, history, and its commitment to sustainability and renewable energy. This is one place on Earth that I feel absolutely drawn to, more than anywhere else.
I am a full-time student at the University of South Carolina, where I am an Environmental Studies major. This is my third year at Carolina, and I am planning on studying abroad in Iceland this coming summer. I had been struggling with how I would afford this trip until my mom and I stumbled upon the idea for this business.
During a brief trip to visit a wonderful friend in Maryland, I made my very first chunky knit blanket (which I had been eager to do for quite some time). After coming back home, I tossed around the idea of making these blankets for other people, but I didn't necessarily want to spend a ton of time knitting massive blankets, and not being able to get as many orders out. After a few nights back home, I realized that both of our dogs were obsessed with my big knit blanket. My mom then had the genius idea for me to make these primarily for dogs (and cats!). Clearly, I loved this idea.
The name for this business came incredibly quickly and naturally to me. When you rescue an animal, you give them a second chance at life, a new life. At the same time, you're also beginning a new life with them. My mission is to enhance this experience by providing a product that will make your animals feel instantly comfortable and right at home.
The second part of this name is "hygge" (pronounced hoo-gah). This is the Danish term for the feeling of coziness, comfort, and contentedness. While you can easily find moments of hygge by yourself, I find that it really works best when you share them with the people you're closest to:) I've found that this word has incredible power to improve one's life, and I'm discovering moments of hygge every single day. There's a lot to be said about this simple word, but I encourage you to explore it further and discover what it can do for your life. I hope you'll appreciate the little moments of hygge you can find from day-to-day, and have the courage to share its meaning with others!
