Having grown up in Philadelphia, the "south of New York place to shop", I rode the trolley with my mother to shop in "town". It was the thrill of the buy that did it for her. When she returned home with her treasures, she carefully unwrapped them so she could fold the paper and use it again.

We continued our shopping odyssey well into my middle age and her senior years and when we branched out into the suburbs where boutiques began to sprout up in strip malls and along the tree-lined streets of the small towns surrounding Philadelphia. My mother’s eye for classic and timeless designs never dimmed and I vowed to carry on her tradition somehow.

As my world expanded, I learned the thrills of shopping and finding wonderful boutiques in the nooks and crannies of the Internet. Getting a bargain doesn’t necessarily mean getting something cheaper, but getting something timeless that becomes part of your personna that you could never remember doing without. This website was to be a delightful curated boutique of unique and special items.

I retired from the nonprofit community where I was a marketing and development director when I was diagnosed with a rare cancer called carcinoid which is a type of neuroendocrine tumor. Naturally this changed my perspective. I began a support group for carcinoid in 2006 in Philadelphia. What could I do for the community at large? First, to create awareness, we adopted a zebra at the Philadelphia Zoo (visit our Zebra Room and read about its significance). Then I began a journey to advocate for a major medical institution to form a clinic specializing in these rare diseases. I consulted with national foundations and spoke at large conferences. In 2009 I was diagnosed with a second cancer and survived a triple coronary by-pass. It became important to me to inspire and engage others to become part of what's become known as participatory medicine. The late Tom Ferguson envisioned health care as an equal partnership between e-patients and health professionals and the systems that support them. Participatory Medicine is the movement in which networked patients shift from being mere passengers to responsible drivers of their health. Those with rare cancers, out of necessity, join in regional and national initiatives to learn of current treatments and protocols so that they can have "ownership" of their decisions and get an expert's care. I believe they are the forerunners of the movement.

In a moment of inspiration, why not offer a carcinoid/NET (neuroendocrine tumor) awareness bracelet for sale with a portion of the proceeds going towards the foundations that supported research and awareness efforts? So we designed and began manufacturing a bracelet with a black and white striped awareness ribbon which we call Monica’s Bracelet.

In fact, why not devote the site to the needs of ill patients. And we did. Our curated collection of medical alert necklaces and bracelets showcases well-designed items a cut above your average medical alert jewelry. From my own experience, I was hesitant to buy one but once I did, I now feel secure that if needed, important information is available for emergency personnel and it is always on my wrist. 95% of medical personnel will look for medical alert jewelry.

Our undertheweather page showcases what will be a quirky collection of gift items for those recovering from an operation, an illness, or an accident.