Lily & Val calendars bring mindful living and gentle self-care to daily planning through artwork and messaging that encourage emotional wellness, meaningful moments, and the kind of intentional living that honors both productivity and personal peace. Created by Valerie McKeehan from her Pittsburgh home studio, Lily & Val represents a philosophy of life that celebrates nostalgia, simplicity, and the profound beauty found in ordinary domestic moments when approached with gratitude and mindful awareness. Her distinctive aesthetic combines hand-lettered inspirational messages with soft botanical illustrations and vintage-inspired design elements that speak to people seeking balance between ambitious goals and gentle self-compassion. Whether you're drawn to the "Just Breathe" collection that promotes mindfulness and stress relief, or the "Be Gentle with Yourself" series that encourages self-care and emotional kindness, Lily & Val calendars transform everyday planning into opportunities for personal reflection, wellness practices, and connection to the values that support both mental health and meaningful living in a world that often prioritizes productivity over personal peace.

About Artist Valerie McKeehan and Lily & Val

Lily & Val was born in Valerie McKeehan's kitchen in 2012, when she was newly married and wanting to create meaningful pieces that would make their first home feel more personal and welcoming. A self-described sentimentalist, homebody, flower lover, author, newbie-gardener, vintage collector, and Francophile, McKeehan started her business by hand-lettering chalkboard signs because she loved the nostalgic, cozy aesthetic they brought to domestic spaces. Working from her home studio in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, she has spent over a decade applying the same philosophy that started it all: creating unique, meaningful products that help people surround themselves with beauty, inspiration, and reminders of what matters most in daily life. Her products are driven by nostalgia for cozy, simple, ordinary moments that spark joy and meaning, often inspired by childhood memories of rural Pennsylvania where her mother instilled a deep love of flowers and nature. McKeehan's personal approach to art and business reflects her commitment to authentic living, mindful practices, and the belief that homes should serve as sanctuaries that support both emotional wellness and creative expression through thoughtfully chosen objects that encourage gentle living and self-compassion.

Just Breathe Collection Promotes Mindful Living

The Just Breathe collection represents Lily & Val's core mission of bringing mindfulness and intentional breathing practices into daily planning and organization routines. The Just Breathe wall calendar features McKeehan's signature hand-lettered messaging combined with soft botanical illustrations that serve as daily reminders to pause, breathe deeply, and approach both challenges and celebrations with mindful awareness and emotional balance. The Plan It wall calendar combines comprehensive organizational capabilities with artwork and messaging that encourage users to plan their schedules while maintaining connection to breath, presence, and the kind of mindful awareness that prevents overwhelm and supports mental wellness throughout busy periods. This collection appeals particularly to people practicing mindfulness, managing stress, pursuing work-life balance, and anyone seeking planning tools that support both productivity and emotional wellness through daily reminders that taking time to breathe deeply is both a practical stress management technique and a spiritual practice that enhances quality of life.

Be Gentle with Yourself Collection Encourages Self-Care

The Be Gentle with Yourself wall calendar represents Lily & Val's commitment to promoting self-compassion, emotional kindness, and the kind of gentle approach to personal growth that honors both ambition and self-acceptance. This collection features artwork and messaging that encourage users to treat themselves with the same kindness they would offer a beloved friend, especially during challenging times when self-criticism might feel more natural than self-compassion. McKeehan's hand-lettered messages combined with soft, nurturing botanical illustrations create daily reminders that personal growth doesn't require harsh self-judgment, that productivity doesn't require perfectionism, and that true wellness includes emotional gentleness alongside goal achievement. This collection particularly resonates with people in healing journeys, parents balancing multiple demands, creative professionals managing rejection and criticism, and anyone learning to replace negative self-talk with encouraging inner dialogue that supports both mental health and sustainable progress toward meaningful goals.

Curated Wellness Collection Extends Mindful Living

Beyond traditional calendars, Lily & Val offers thoughtfully curated items that extend the philosophy of gentle, mindful living into different aspects of daily life and personal expression. The Soft Escapes assorted boxed note cards feature McKeehan's signature aesthetic in correspondence format, perfect for sending meaningful messages to friends, family, or yourself as reminders of beauty, encouragement, and connection during times when handwritten notes feel more personal and intentional than digital communication. These curated wellness items reflect McKeehan's understanding that mindful living extends beyond personal practices to include how we communicate with others, express gratitude, and maintain connections that support both individual and community wellness through thoughtful, intentional choices that prioritize emotional authenticity and genuine care over superficial interactions or rushed communications that don't honor the depth of human relationships and emotional needs.

Why Wellness-Focused People Choose Lily & Val

Lily & Val has earned recognition among people prioritizing mental health, mindful living, and gentle approaches to personal development because McKeehan's calendars serve as daily support systems for maintaining emotional wellness while pursuing meaningful goals and managing life's inevitable challenges. Her authentic approach to self-care messaging resonates with people who understand that true productivity includes rest, that genuine success includes self-compassion, and that sustainable goal achievement requires balance between ambition and acceptance. The hand-lettered aesthetic and botanical illustrations create planning tools that feel more like personal wellness journals than traditional organizational accessories, appealing to people who want their daily planning routines to support both practical organization and emotional health. Many users appreciate how Lily & Val calendars encourage them to approach their schedules, goals, and daily challenges with the kind of gentle awareness that prevents burnout while maintaining progress toward personally meaningful objectives that align with values of authentic living, emotional wellness, and mindful presence in ordinary moments.