Local Love: Eccentrics Boutque and Faye

Some days are not meant to be planned. They are meant to unfold in their own quiet way. My bestie Sarah and I had no agenda today, which might be why everything felt so easy. We drove with no real destination, talked about everything and nothing, and let the day guide us instead of the other way around.

We stopped into Eccentrics Boutique (Carterville, IL) and Faye (Murphysboro, IL), two places that always spark something in me. I spent nearly a decade working at Eccentrics, and it shaped so much of who I am creatively, so walking into those spaces still feels familiar in the best way. Both shops have this intentional energy that you can feel as soon as you step inside. Every detail has a purpose. Every corner feels welcoming. It makes me proud to have businesses like these right here in our community.

Southern Illinois has been home my entire life, and days like this remind me why. I love the buzz of big cities and the inspiration that comes with travel, but this place has a steadiness that always brings me back to center. It feels like exhaling after a week of holding your breath.

Nothing about today was perfect or planned, and maybe that is exactly what made it so good. Sometimes the best days are the ones that meet you right where you are and invite you to slow down, notice the moment, and enjoy the people you love.