I’ve always been a stationery girlie. School supply shopping and Scholastic book fairs?? Girl, I ate that up. So maybe it’s no surprise Poppy & Cow was always waiting for me. The name (and the why) just came later.

At 27, I lost my soul dog, Joey, my sweet lil man who’d been my safe place since I was 11. Therapy helped me navigate my grief and depression, and journaling in my notes app became my lifeline between sessions.

Between all that, I really wanted something that helped me be accountable for taking care of myself. So naturally, I went on a googling spree, but every “self-care” journal I saw—with their sleep trackers, water goals, and habit checklists—only made me feel worse. Like, girl... I can’t even get out of bed—do you really think 64oz of water and a 9 p.m. bedtime will heal me??? I didn’t need another chore or checklist. I needed a safe place to just be.

So, I made the journal I couldn’t find. Poppy for my taurus flower, Cow for Joey’s favorite plush. Now, these pages hold what he once gave me—comfort, love, and the reminder that you’re enough as you are. You’re never too messy, too behind, or too much to deserve care.