The Grubbies Guide to Self-Care

Self-care is often sold to us as something sleek and polished—spa days, expensive rituals, color-coded routines. But real self-care? It’s messier, quieter, and a lot more magical.

That’s where the Grubbies come in. These small creatures—laser cut from wood, layered in multiple pieces, lovingly glued, painted, and sealed—live in their cozy containers, but don’t let the homes fool you. They’re free to come and go, just like emotions, just like ideas.

Each Grubbie has its own personality. Some are joyful, others tender, and a few are delightfully grumpy. But none are “bad.” They’re just honest. And when I look at them, I see reflections of myself—of all of us—on the journey toward understanding what we need.

So here it is: the Grubbies’ take on self-care. Small but mighty wisdom from my favorite tiny monsters.

Little Grace says: Rest is sacred.

Little Grace is the soft whisper in a loud world. Her energy is subtle, warm, and deeply present. She reminds us that slowing down isn’t a weakness—it’s the very thing that allows us to gather strength.

Take a nap. Stare out a window. Wander without urgency. There’s no prize for pushing through. Little Grace reminds us that permission to rest is radical, and that gentle moments are often where the real magic settles in.

Feeling Feelings says: You don’t have to be okay all the time.

Feeling Feelings has a full spectrum heart. She’ll cry at a sunset and grin through tears. Her superpower is making space—for grief, joy, frustration, confusion, and everything in between.

This Grubbie wants you to stop filtering yourself. You don’t need to shrink your emotions to be digestible. Write them out. Dance them out. Let them move through you. Self-care starts with the courage to feel without editing.

Daisy says: Move your body, even just a little.

Daisy is a kinetic spark—curious, restless, and joyfully alive. But not in a “go run five miles” kind of way. More like: spin in your kitchen. Stretch while the tea brews. Step outside and breathe like you mean it.

Movement doesn’t have to be intense to be powerful. Daisy believes that energy stuck in the body is energy stuck in the soul. Shake it out. Twirl. Reconnect with your body as a space for play, not perfection.

Grumpy says: You’re allowed to have off days.

Grumpy doesn’t do fake positivity. They’re the protector of the right to feel off, irritated, introverted, or downright crabby. Not every moment has to be enlightened or productive.

Grumpy gives you full permission to throw a blanket over your head and say “no thanks” to the world for a bit. Because real self-care includes honesty—and sometimes that means letting yourself be a little rough around the edges.

What the Grubbies Know (That We Sometimes Forget)

The Grubbies aren’t here to fix you. They’re not polished or mass-produced. They’re layered—just like people. And they’re a reminder that self-care doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s.

It can be small. Strange. Silly. Quiet.
It can be joyful or solemn or somewhere in-between.

Each Grubbie carries a little spark of that truth. They’re original, handmade, and full of heart. I created them as a way to bring imagination into everyday spaces, but I hope they also remind you that caring for yourself is a creative act. One that can be as unique, imperfect, and magical as you are.