06/25/2026
Lately, Iāve been a little quieter.
You may have noticed that I havenāt been at every small business evening event, every market, or every community gathering lately. The truth is, life outside these four walls has been very full.
If youāve ever wondered where Iāve been lately, my calendar probably tells the story better than I can.
Between three kids in baseball, helping coach, practices, games, tournaments, travelling, spending four or more evenings a week at the ball fields, and somehow fitting in photography sessions between all this rain, my schedule looks a little FULL these days.
Behind this business is just one person wearing many, many hats.
Iām a business owner, photographer, store operator, barista, marketer, bookkeeper, cleaner, social media manager, volunteer coach, event planner, and most importantly, a mom.
When I opened this business, I did it with one goal in mind: to create a life that allowed me to be present for my children. That means some seasons look different than others. Sometimes the shop gets my full attention, and sometimes my kids need more of me.
But when it comes down to it, my children will always come first.
Do I love this business? Absolutely. It has given me so much, taught me many lessons, introduced me to incredible people, and allowed me to create and build something Iām incredibly proud of. But it was never meant to replace my family ā it was meant to support it.
Running a small business in a small town also means constantly trying to stay creative to stay relevant ā dreaming up new ideas, creating new drinks, menus, experiences, and finding ways to offer something unique. Sometimes those ideas find their way around town a little quicker than weād expect, and that can be discouraging. But I still believe there is room for all of us to create, to grow, and to do things in our own way.
We are real humans behind small businesses. We all carry things that others may never see. We experience hard seasons, disappointments, struggles, family commitments, and challenges outside of our storefronts. We carry those things while still showing up every day and serving a smile.
Words matter. Kindness matters. Grace matters.
Supporting small businesses doesnāt always mean attending every event or showing up everywhere all at once. Sometimes it looks like coaching a team, spending evenings at the ball diamonds, collecting bottles with your kids, supporting quietly behind the scenes, or simply raising good humans.
Running a business while raising a family means making hard choices. There are only so many hours in a day, and while I would love to be everywhere and support everyone, this season of life belongs heavily to my children.
One day there will be fewer practices and games, but these years are short, and I donāt want to miss them.
And honestly, finding the right balance is one of the hardest things for me personally. Sometimes that means being up at 5:00 a.m. creating social media posts before the kids wake up. Sometimes it means losing sleep, working around the clock, and doing whatever it takes to make it all work.
Thank you to everyone who continues to support this little dream, whether thatās by grabbing a drink, finding a new outfit, booking a session, liking a post, or simply stopping in to say hello.
For me, community isnāt measured by how many events you attend. Sometimes itās measured by the people youāre raising, the time you give, the kindness you show, and simply doing your best to support others while balancing your own life.
Iāll try to share more of these moments from now on because I wholeheartedly believe that honesty, integrity, and being open about the realities of life and business are what make us real. Life isnāt always perfectly curated, and neither is small business.
The people who lead with kindness, authenticity, and grace are exactly the kinds of people and businesses Iām drawn to supporting in our community.
So for now, youāll likely find me in a lawn chair on the sidelines ā most likely in the rain ā out on the diamonds teaching the kiddos, camera in hand, exactly where I want to be until this season winds down.
Itās been a busy spring but baseball season is slowly coming to an end over the next few weeks, and while the calendar may eventually quiet down a little, before we know itā¦ the next sport will start!
Cheers to all the parents who are hustling, working, volunteering and doing this on the daily, we see you! While we may be tired, stressed, and highly caffeinated, these years with our kids are the ones that we will cherish the most.
ā¦ Maybe thatās why I decided to become a local caffeine dealer. šāļøš¤Ŗš¤ā¾ļøš
