Marcie Pantzer is the founder of Dear Annabelle, a luxury paper goods brand that brings a whimsical wink to the classic art of correspondence. The brand was born from Marcie’s personal love of letter writing, starting when she went away to sleep away camp as a young girl. Her passion for sending and receiving mail was only rivaled by her affection for the tools of the trade — beautiful stationery and fine paper products. With Dear Annabelle — named for her daughter — she’s created her dream line of stationery, place cards, and note pads that celebrate joy, humor, and connection.

Born and raised in St. Louis, Marcie now resides in New York City with her husband and four children.

“It can be hard to keep a level head with all of the information and news coming at you from every direction, but I try not to get distracted by all of the chatter of the moment. I prioritize connecting with family and giving where I can, which makes me excited to wake up every morning.”

My personal style is classic, elegant, and sophisticated — yet never fussy. I try to invest in beautiful, timeless pieces that I can hold on to and pass down to my daughter, Annabelle. I feel the best when I am put together, so I tend to dress up most days. That said, for the past several months during quarantine, I’ve been living in jeans and a Goldie tee shirt. (So soft.)

The best piece(s) of fashion armor in my closet are my favorite SLVRLAKE jeans, black Manolo suede pumps and signature Chanel jacket.

I’m making my mark by encouraging people to spread love and kindness through sending letters and gifts. Dear Annabelle’s tagline is “send some love today”, and I work hard to embrace this in my own life. Our world is crazy right now, and we really need to spread positivity and joy. I am also devoted to fundraising for two charities that are close to my heart — Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and the pediatrics department at New York Hospital.

A professional/personal challenge that keeps me up at night I’m constantly questioning if I am balancing everything in my life well enough. Am I giving my four children, husband, new puppy, and my business enough attention? I am constantly pulled in many directions but want to be sure I am present for everything and everyone I love.

In moments of self-doubt, I build myself back up… by remembering the words of the brilliant Dr. Sasha Heinz, “Tell your inner naysayer to STFU.”

My version of personal care involves daily workouts at Tracy Anderson. I find that I am at my best when I start my morning with a challenging, sweaty workout. I also indulge in frequent facials, attempt to get 8 hours of sleep a night and do yoga on Saturday mornings. Mentally, I take care of myself by practicing TM and focusing on gratitude before I go to sleep.

Words of wisdom that resonate with me are: Nothing can change until you believe that it can.

I stay true to my passions by staying focused on my hopes and dreams and always following my heart. It can be hard to keep a level head with all of the information and news coming at you from every direction, but I try not to get distracted by all of the chatter of the moment. I prioritize connecting with family and giving where I can, which makes me excited to wake up every morning.

I’m most proud of my marriage to my beloved husband, Jordan — 18 years! — and the family we have created together. Professionally, I am very proud of myself for starting my own company in my early 40’s after having been a stay-at-home mom for 12 years. I have SO much respect for all the working moms out there, especially right now!

The one message I would like to share with all: Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Whether it is on a personal or professional level, we can’t have all the answers or do everything on our own. I firmly believe that we can only be our best selves when we have a strong support system to help us navigate through all of life’s ups and downs.

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This feature was originally published in Town & Style St. Louis on October 6, 2020