There’s nothing better than expressing gratitude and thanks, and paying it forward when you learn of someone’s good deed.

My brother Bruce, who lives in NYC, received a message from someone he didn’t know via Linked In. The man, Evan, contacted my brother because he had found his building security pass in a subway, and thought it looked important. Bruce thanked him and assured him he had obtained another pass, and the one Evan had found had been deactivated.

The two men continued their conversation, and as often happens, they ended up discussing what they did for a living. Evan told Bruce he owned a children’s clothing store with his business partner Andy, in the city, called Andy and Evan.

Now, I’m asking you… what were the odds that a total stranger would take the time to contact my brother, and that this stranger would happen to own a lovely upscale children’s boutique, and that Bruce had JUST become a first-time great-uncle (my grandson Jack Henry)?

Expressing Gratitude and Paying It Forward

Bruce told Evan his timing to lose his pass couldn’t have come at a better time ( as if there could ever be a good time to lose a security pass!?), because he’d been wanting to get Jack a few things. Evan immediately gave my brother a special discount code for 50% off ANYTHING in the boutique or online.

The minute I heard this story, I reached out to Evan and offered to write about it because I was touched by his thoughtfulness not only when he found that pass on the subway, but then again when he gave my brother that special – and very generous – discount code.

This is a time when most of us are all more conscious of what we are spending. He didn’t have to do that. I mean, 50%?

Flash Forward

Jack received three of the cutest outfits (0-3 months) you ever did see, and that’s not all. Evan graciously offered me a code to share with you, dear peeps, for ANYTHING online as well, at again, 50% off – and it’s good for a year!!!

If you are searching for adorable, classic, quality clothing and accessories for babies, toddlers or young children (the store features baby through age seven), you need to check out Andy and Evan. Soooo cute!

Who cares if you aren’t going out right now? You know you are still dressing your baby in adorable outfits! Zoom play dates, Facetime with granny and poppy? Come on!

So, if you think my story ends here, it doesn’t!

Flashback

Before Jack Henry was even born, my daughter and son-in-law had made an appointment with a local (South Florida) photographer to come take pics. Because of the pandemic, they were uncomfortable with having someone in the house. Luckily, a good friend told them about a New Jersey-based photographer, Sara Kalish, who worked with parents virtually, teaching them how to pose their babies (giving them tips and tricks), and then, parents would send those pics to Sara.

Sara in turn worked her editing magic, and before you could say smile twenty times to a newborn baby, my daughter had gorgeous edited photos of Jack. The entire family has been just as happy to have these keepsake photos.

When we saw Jack dressed up in these adorable outfits, my daughter contacted Sara again, and this gifted photographer explained, it’s harder to work with six-week-olds because they are more alert, not as easy to position, etc.… But Sara said she would give it a go, and the results were fantastic, as you can see.

I can’t recommend Sara enough. If you know anyone who is having a baby or who has just had one and wants keepsake pics, SaraKalishPhtography is the one to contact. She is well-known for working with families, newborns (obviously!) and for her maternity and travel photography. Love her for giving us even more fabulous pics of Jack!

And that, my friends, brings me to the end of this long, but feel-good post. It just made me happy that one generous stranger, and one talented photographer, both came into our lives at the right time. And better than that, we’ve made new virtual friends that we may never meet, but we will be in touch with for years to come.

Check out Andy and Evan and use gwenlives50 – good for one year!!  AndyandEvan.

Check out SaraKalishPhotography.

xoxo