Pre-Meal for May 6, 2026A Trip to the Treasure Store

P.S. (The P is for “pre-” because I’m too excited about this to wait till the end. My new book, Unreasonable Hospitality: The Field Guide, is finally out in the world! My team and I worked hard to make a workbook that didn’t feel a workbook, and I couldn’t be more proud of the way it came out. I can’t wait to hear what you think!

Now, back to your regularly scheduled newsletter…)

Happy Wednesday!

“It’s like I always say: Never let a gracious impulse pass,” said Steve Foltz, who owns Jamba Juice and Cinnabon locations in Washington and Oregon.

We were chatting at a meet-and-greet, and I loved that phrase so much, I interrupted him to write it down. Because the difference between having a hospitable impulse and following through on it is—well, everything.

I thought of Steve recently while my kids and I were out on one of our favorite outings: a trip to The Treasure Store.

The Treasure Store has everything: toys, books, clothes, home goods, weird boxes full of belts. It’s sustainable, and excellent for both scavenger hunts—“How many different animals can you find?”—and for sourcing the perfect accessories, like porcelain teacups and embroidered cocktail napkins, to dress up your next doll tea party.

And the price is always right, because The Treasure Store is what my family calls Goodwill. (And every other thrift store, actually.)

A couple of weeks ago, I saw a Sublime concert T-shirt on one of the racks at The Treasure Store. Sublime was my friend Andy’s absolute favorite band back in college and he still loves them; the T-shirt was a slam-dunk gift. Still, I hesitated: the kids were pulling at me, I had too much going on to tack on an extra trip to the post office, and Andy knows I love him, gift or no gift.

But Steve was on my shoulder, so I bought the shirt, ran it through the wash and sent it on with a note: “Saw this and thought of you.” And I’m so glad I did, because that five-dollar thrifted T-shirt is one of the best gifts I’ve given this year.

When I talk about the impact you can make with a great present, people often assume I mean splashing out on something extravagant. But thoughtfulness, not the price tag, makes a gift great—that, and never letting a gracious impulse pass.

Have a good service,

Will