Apparently, Mahjong Is My Personality Now
If you had told me a year ago that I would have a standing weekly mahjong game, multiple sets of tiles and mats, and plans to start another weekly game, I probably would have laughed at you. And yet, here we are. Mahjong has officially become part of my personality.
The funny thing is, I did not grow up in a big game-playing family. I remember Candy Land, Guess Who?, and Uno, but that is about the extent of it. We weren't pulling out board games every weekend or sitting around the table playing cards after dinner. Because of that, I've always been the person who steers away when someone suggests a game night, especially if it comes with the words, “We'll teach you!”
But then mahjong started following me everywhere. I saw people playing it online, beautiful tables set with colorful tiles, patterned mats, gorgeous racks, and all the little accessories that go along with it. Eventually, the designer and decor lover in me simply couldn't resist. I'm not going to pretend my initial interest was purely intellectual. It was the tiles. And the mats. And the racks.
There is something so beautiful and tactile about the entire experience. You aren't just sitting down to play a game. You're setting a table, putting out snacks and drinks, and gathering people around something that feels equal parts game night and social ritual. For someone who loves hosting, collecting beautiful things, and finding reasons to gather people around a table, I suppose I never really stood a chance.
So I signed up for a mahjong class once a week for four weeks to learn how to play American mahjong, and somewhere during those four weeks, casual curiosity turned into a full-blown obsession. There is so much more strategy involved than I expected, and I love having something that challenges my mind in a completely different way. The older I get, the more I appreciate having hobbies that make me think, strategize, learn, and problem-solve.
I also didn't realize how much I was craving a hobby that didn't involve a screen. So much of my life and work happens through my phone or computer, so sitting around a table for a few hours with physical tiles in my hands and my phone nowhere in sight feels incredibly refreshing. But I think what has really made mahjong stick is the social aspect. As an adult, there aren't that many things that naturally give you a reason to regularly gather with the same group of people. Now I have a weekly game with girls in my neighborhood, and next month I'm starting a second weekly game. We sit around a table, talk, laugh, snack, catch up, and play. It's become something I genuinely look forward to every week.
And really, the more I think about it, the more this entire obsession makes sense. I've always internally considered myself a bit of a grandma. I love a 5 p.m. dinner reservation. I love comfortable, modest clothes. I am thrilled to be in bed by 9 p.m. I collect really old things. Give me an antique store and an early dinner and I am having an absolutely fantastic day. So naturally, the next logical step was apparently becoming a woman with multiple mahjong sets and two standing games a week.
What started because I kept seeing beautiful tiles everywhere has turned into a hobby I genuinely didn't know I needed. It challenges my brain, gets me away from a screen, and, most importantly, gives me another reason to gather around a table with people I enjoy. The fact that I also get to collect beautiful things along the way is simply a bonus. Or at least that's what I'm telling myself.
A Few Mahjong Brands I'm Loving
Since falling headfirst into the mahjong world, I've had the pleasure of trying pieces from several different brands, and there are so many beautiful options out there. A few that I've been loving are Sunday Mahjong, Haute Mahjong, SoloMahj, and Lucky Daughters.
Each brings something a little different to the table, from beautiful tiles, racks, and mats to SoloMahj's individual Charleston boards that let you practice on your own. I love seeing how much design and personality has made its way into the mahjong world, and I have a feeling my collection is only going to continue growing.
So if you've also been seeing mahjong everywhere and wondering whether you should finally learn, consider this your sign. Take the class, gather some friends around a table, and yes, buy the pretty tiles.
Just don't blame me when mahjong becomes part of your personality, too.
The Holiday Party Playbook: Everything I Use to Host Our Annual Cocktail Soirée
Every year, Josh and I fill our home with friends for our annual holiday cocktail soirée. What started as a gathering of about 15 people has grown into a house filled with 70 to 75 guests, plenty of food, festive cocktails, music, laughter, and one very memorable game of Surprise White Elephant.
After sharing glimpses of the party online, I received hundreds of questions. What exactly do we serve? How early do I send invitations? Where do I shop? What games do we play? What cocktails can be made in advance? How do we keep the party flowing without spending the entire evening working as hosts?
I realized the answers deserved more than a few social media captions, so I put every detail into The Holiday Party Playbook.
A Complete Plan for Hosting Your Own Holiday Party
The Holiday Party Playbook walks you through my entire process, beginning with the invitation and ending with the little details that help the evening feel effortless.
Inside, you will find:
My complete planning timeline and RSVP schedule
A holiday invitation template with a breakdown of what to include
My exact grazing menu and comprehensive shopping list
Four signature cocktail recipes with individual and one gallon batch measurements
Mocktail substitutions and tips for creating a self serve holiday bar
My favorite places to shop for food, alcohol, glassware, and serveware
The five hour playlist we use at our party
The flow and cadence of the evening
The complete rules for our expedited Surprise White Elephant game
Specific gift ideas gathered from five years of hosting
My best preparation, setup, and hosting advice
This is not about copying our party perfectly or believing that you need a certain home, guest count, or budget to create something memorable. It is about using the parts that work for you and having a clear plan so you can spend less time worrying about logistics and more time enjoying the people you invited.
My biggest hosting lesson is that preparation creates ease. When the food is ready, the bar is stocked, the music is playing, and guests know where to find what they need, you are free to be part of the party too.
Introducing The Collector’s Field Guide
If you’ve ever walked into an antique store completely inspired and then immediately thought, “Okay... but what am I actually looking for?” I made something for you.
I’m so excited to introduce The Collector’s Field Guide, a digital guide designed to help you shop for antique and vintage pieces with more confidence, intention, and a whole lot less second-guessing.
After years of antiquing and sourcing pieces for our own home, I’ve developed a process that helps me walk into a shop knowing what I’m looking for, recognize when something is worth considering, and decide when it’s better to walk away.
And now, I’m sharing that process with you.
A field guide designed to actually come shopping with you.
I wanted this to be different from a traditional e-book or lengthy sourcing guide. The Collector’s Field Guide is quick, practical, and designed specifically to reference from your phone while you’re out hunting.
It’s broken into three simple parts:
Before You Hunt
How to prepare before you start sourcing so you can shop with more intention.
Before You Buy
The questions and considerations that can help you decide whether a piece truly belongs in your home.
After You Get It Home
What to do once you’ve found something you love, especially when it doesn’t immediately work exactly where you imagined it would.
This guide is for anyone who wants to build a home that feels collected over time, but wants a little more confidence navigating the hunt along the way.
Because the goal isn’t simply to buy more things.
It’s to find the right things.
Whether you’re heading to an antique mall, an estate sale, or sourcing while you travel, consider this your little antiquing companion.
The Collector’s Field Guide is available now.
GET THE COLLECTOR’S FIELD GUIDE
Happy hunting. 🤎
Our House Is Turning 100!
This year marks a pretty special milestone around here: our house is officially turning 100 years old! And naturally, we couldn’t let a birthday this big pass without a party.
This weekend, we’re celebrating the centennial of our 1926 Tudor in the form of one of our favorite traditions: our annual end-of-summer barbecue.
Of all the gatherings we host throughout the year, this is probably the least curated, and I think that’s exactly why I love it so much. It’s family-friendly, casual, a little chaotic in the best way, and really just about getting everyone we love together.
Think backyard barbecue meets kids’ birthday party.
We rent a big tent and fill the yard with tables so everyone has somewhere comfortable to sit and eat. Josh smokes around 60 pounds of brisket (yes, sixty!), we stock drinks for kids and adults alike, and everyone brings a side dish or dessert to share. There are yard games, a bounce house for the kids, and plenty of room to just hang out.
And because apparently we’ve become those people with chickens, this year the girls are joining the festivities, too. The kids will be able to visit the coop and feed them, which might end up being one of my favorite additions yet.
What I love most about this party, though, is how community-driven it feels. It’s our friends, our families, and our neighbors all gathered together in the backyard of this old house.
There’s something really special about celebrating 100 years this way. This house has been home to generations of people before us, and now we get to add our own little chapter to its story, filled with friends around the table, kids running through the yard, way too much brisket, and hopefully a few very happy chickens.
We feel incredibly lucky to call this place home, and even luckier to fill it with people we love.
Cheers to 100 years! 🥂🏡
I’m writing a BOOK!
I still can’t quite believe I get to say this, but I’m writing a book!
Writing a book about home and design has been a dream of mine for years, but if I’m being completely truthful, it was always a someday dream. Something I imagined might happen years down the road, after more time, more projects, more experience.
And then, somehow, someday became now.
Earlier this year, I was presented with the opportunity to write my first book with Gibbs Smith, and the entire experience has felt a little surreal ever since. I’m incredibly grateful that this little corner of the internet, our old house, and my love of sharing the way I approach decorating have led to something I never expected to be doing quite yet.
The book, currently titled The Collected Home, is really an extension of everything I’ve shared through The Gratz Life over the years.
It’s about creating a home that feels collected rather than decorated. A home that evolves with you, honors the architecture and story of the space, and isn’t afraid to mix old with new. I’ll be sharing my approach to color, collecting, antiques, art, layering, and learning to let your home lead rather than chasing what’s currently trending.
Of course, our 100-year-old Tudor plays a very special role throughout the book, too. Getting to photograph our home with my good friend and incredibly talented photographer, Joe Tiano, and preserve this chapter of its story in print has already been one of the most meaningful parts of the entire process.
There is still plenty happening behind the scenes before I get to hold the finished book in my hands, but we’re currently expecting The Collected Home to release in Fall 2027.
It feels both incredibly far away and somehow right around the corner.
I’m so grateful to every single person who has followed along, shared my work, saved a post, sent a message, or simply found a little inspiration for your own home here. You’ve helped turn a dream I thought belonged to the distant future into something very real.
I cannot wait to share more of this process with you and, eventually, to see this book sitting in your homes. 🤍
Introducing Eleanor
The First Rug by The Gratz Life x Paloma Home Interiors
There are certain pieces in a home that quietly shape everything around them.
For me, rugs have always been one of those foundational elements. They anchor a room, add warmth, and often set the tone before anything else even enters the space. So when I had the opportunity to collaborate with Lindsey, founder of Paloma Home Interiors, to design my very first rug, I knew this was not something I wanted to approach casually. I didn’t want to create a trend driven piece or something tied to a specific design moment. I wanted to create something that felt timeless from the very first glance.
Something that felt as though it had always existed.
The Inspiration Behind Eleanor
Much of my design philosophy is rooted in history.
I am constantly inspired by the interiors of centuries old European castles, English countryside estates, and homes that have been layered slowly over generations. Spaces that feel storied rather than styled. Rooms where textiles have softened with time and nothing feels overly precious or performative.
There is also, undeniably, a Ralph Lauren influence in my work. That balance of masculinity and refinement. The way a single textile can live comfortably in both a moody study lined with books and leather, or in a softer, more romantic sitting room.
With Eleanor, my goal was to create a rug that could exist in either world. A rug that could feel just as at home beneath a vintage desk in a Hemingway inspired office as it could in a light filled living room layered with antiques. Something that transcends both space and era. Feminine without being delicate. Bold without being loud. Collected rather than styled.
Heirloom quality without costing $15,000.
Why Eleanor?
Naming this rug felt just as important as designing it.
I kept returning to the name Eleanor because of what it represents historically. Eleanor Roosevelt was known for her quiet strength, intellect, and unwavering sense of purpose. She was not defined by trends or public opinion, but by longevity, resilience, and substance. Those are the same qualities I wanted this rug to embody. Timelessness over trend. Strength without harshness. Elegance without fragility.
The finished design felt grounded yet refined. Confident without demanding attention. The kind of piece that evolves alongside a home and feels just as right decades from now as it does today.
Each Eleanor rug is hand knotted from 100% wool using all natural vegetable dyes. Once woven, the rug is cleaned using a centuries old process that enhances both its depth of color and durability. It is then stretched and hand trimmed by skilled artisans to bring out the intricacy of the knot work. Every square inch is meticulously woven, and the more detailed the design, the higher the knot count required to achieve it. This level of craftsmanship is what allows hand knotted rugs to be lived with for years and ultimately passed down. This is not your seasonal Amazon rug!
From the beginning, my vision for Eleanor was simple. I wanted to create a rug that felt like it had always belonged in your home. Something antique inspired, thoughtfully made, and intended to move with you through generations. The kind of rug that adds character now and tells a story over time.
You can explore Eleanor and shop all available sizes here:
Shop Eleanor
My Go To Sausage Kale Soup for Soup Season
If it is below 30 degrees in Michigan, this soup is probably on my stove!
I have made this sausage kale soup on repeat all winter. It was one of the first soups I tried when I started cooking more at home, and it turned out so good that it immediately earned a permanent spot in the rotation. Now I double it almost every time so we can eat it for a few days and I only have to chop onions once. This is basically my cozy weather security blanket in soup form.
Why This One Stuck
Fun fact, I’m lactose intolerant! Because of that, I try to eat mostly dairy free at home. Whole30 style recipes have been the easiest lane for me since I don’t have to think about substitutions. If it is in the recipe, I can eat it. Simple! This recipe has greens, carbs, protein, and feel good broth!
My Very Real Life Method
I am not doing extra steps if I do not have to. I cut up whole strips of bacon and cook them right in the pot. Once they start to crisp and release all that flavor, I add hot Italian sausage straight in. I don’t remove anything. I do not drain anything. Everything just builds in the same pot. Bacon, sausage, onion, garlic, potatoes, broth, coconut milk, then kale!
Where It Came From
This soup was originally inspired by a recipe from Fit Mitten Kitchen. If you want the original that inspired mine, you can find it here:
https://www.fitmittenkitchen.com/zuppa-toscana-recipe/
Sausage Kale Soup
Inspired by Zuppa Toscana
Serves: 6
Tip: I usually double this for leftovers.
Ingredients
• 4 to 5 slices bacon, cut into bite sized pieces
• 1 lb hot Italian sausage
• 1 medium yellow onion, diced
• 3 to 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 4 to 5 medium gold or red potatoes, sliced into thin rounds or half moons
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 1 can full fat coconut milk
• 2 to 3 cups chopped kale, stems removed
• Italian seasoning, to taste
• Salt, to taste
• Black pepper, to taste
• Red pepper flakes, optional
Instructions
1. Build the base
In a large soup pot or Dutch oven over medium heat, cook the chopped bacon until it begins to crisp and render fat.
Add the hot Italian sausage directly into the pot. Break it up and cook until browned. Do not drain anything. This is where the flavor builds.
2. Add aromatics
Stir in diced onion and cook until soft, about 3 to 4 minutes. Add garlic and cook about 30 seconds until fragrant.
3. Simmer
Add potatoes and chicken broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer.
4. Season
Add Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes to taste. Cook until potatoes are fork tender, about 10 to 15 minutes.
5. Finish
Stir in kale then your coconut milk. Simmer 5 to 10 more minutes until the kale is tender and flavors come together.
Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Serve warm.
Notes
• This soup tastes even better the next day.
• Stores well in the fridge for up to 4 days.
• Perfect for meal prep and cold weather dinners.
Why I Opened an Antique Booth (And What I Hope It Becomes)
For most of my adult life, I’ve been drawn to objects with character, history, and soul. The worn edges of a vintage mirror, the turned legs of an old table, the mystery of a story embedded in something aged just right… these aren’t just things to me, they are pieces of life waiting for a new chapter.
Opening an antique store has been a dream simmering in the background of my design life. It feels like the natural next step in sharing what I love most: thoughtful, meaningful pieces that make a home feel collected, not rushed. This isn’t about trends or fast decor, it’s about treasures that anchor spaces and invite life in. This booth is the first step of making that dream a reality!
Some Pieces You’ve Seen in My Home
A lot of the items I’ve brought into the booth are pieces that I’ve styled in my own home and items I’ve sourced locally and abroad. My house is a mashup of vintage and antique woven together with intentional design, and I’ve loved watching how these pieces evolve in different rooms over time. That experience taught me what resonates, what lasts, and what brings a kind of everyday joy that new stuff alone can’t deliver.
What You Can Expect From the Booth
I’ll be restocking twice a month, which means every time you come to visit, there’s something new to discover. My goal is to bring you items that I would love to experience in my own home, items that spark immense joy, and items that will bring layers and history to of YOUR homes.
Grand Opening Details
I’m so excited to invite you to the grand opening of the booth on the 16th of this month! This feels like such a meaningful milestone for me, and I truly can’t wait to share it with you in person.
You’ll find my space inside The Found Cottage, a beautifully curated shop that mixes vintage, antiques, new decor, clothing, gifts, and so much more with such a warm, welcoming vibe. thefoundcottage.com
Location:
2460 Chicago Drive, Suite B, Hudsonville, MI 49426 thefoundcottage.com
Hours:
Monday through Wednesday: 10 AM to 6 PM
Thursday: 10 AM to 8 PM
Friday: 10 AM to 6 PM
Saturday: 10 AM to 5 PM
Sunday: Closed thefoundcottage.com
Website:
https://thefoundcottage.com thefoundcottage.com
What I Hope You Feel When You Visit
More than anything, I hope this booth feels like an invitation. An invitation to slow down, to choose thoughtfully, to bring pieces into your home that carry meaning. I hope when you walk in, you feel curious, inspired, and delighted by what you find.
If you stop by on opening day, or anytime soon, please say hello. I’d love to hear which piece speaks to you.
My Everyday Makeup Routine: Simple, Glowy, and Under 10 Minutes
I used to be a full glam, products-on-products kind of girl. Drawers of makeup, drawers of skincare, and easily an hour to get ready. At the time, I thought more meant better. More coverage, more steps, more products.
The biggest shift for me didn’t actually start with makeup. It started with learning to love my skin. For years, skincare felt confusing, so I used everything. About a little over a year ago, I started getting regular facials locally, and that completely changed how I approached my skin. Working with an esthetician helped me realize I didn’t need 15 products layered on at once. I needed a few quality ones used consistently. Once my skincare routine simplified and my skin started improving, my makeup naturally followed.
Now my everyday makeup takes under 10 minutes, and I honestly don’t know how I ever lived any other way. I’m not trying to cover my skin anymore. I’m just enhancing it. The routine is simple, glowy, and effortless, and it actually feels like me. Quality over quantity has become my rule for both skincare and makeup, and it’s made getting ready easier, faster, and so much more enjoyable.
I’ve linked the five makeup products I use every single day below, along with my current daytime + nighttime skincare routine, if you want to shop exactly what I use. Simple really can be better!
Batch Cocktails for Holiday Hosting
It is officially that time of year! We just hosted our annual holiday cocktail soirée and it is truly my favorite party to throw.
Lots of food. Lots of drinks. And a house full of people we love.
When I host, I always like to offer two signature cocktails so guests have options and the bar feels intentional. This year I kept it festive, strong, and crowd friendly with a Cinnamon Espresso Martini and what I called Gratz Christmas Punch.
Both were flavorful, cozy, and very much on theme. And yes, they were strong!
We hosted roughly 50 people, so I made large batches of each cocktail in glass dispensers to keep things easy and flowing all night. Both drinks were a huge hit and were served alongside a mix of different wines, bubbles, and beers so everyone had options. That is definitely one of my top hosting tips. Always make sure you have plenty of options!
If you are hosting this season and want two cocktails that feel elevated, festive, and party tested, these are it. Recipes are below.
Cinnamon Espresso Martini
Large glass dispenser
Equal parts of the first three ingredients.
Batch
4 cups vodka
4 cups Kahlua
4 cups espresso cold brew
1 cup cinnamon simple syrup
I added about 4 cinnamon sticks directly to the dispenser for extra warmth and a festive touch.
Cinnamon Simple Syrup
Use a classic simple syrup and add vanilla extract and ground cinnamon.
Gratz Christmas Punch
Inspired by Half Baked Harvest
Large glass dispenser
Batch
2 bottles dry white wine
3 cups pomegranate juice
2 cups vodka
1½ cups St. Germain
¼ cup Cointreau
4 twelve ounce bottles ginger beer added right before serving
Infused with
Blood orange slices
Pomegranate arils
Cinnamon sticks
Fresh rosemary
Mix everything except the ginger beer and chill for several hours so the fruit and herbs infuse. Add the ginger beer right before guests arrive.
Josh’s Birthday Dutch Apple Pie
Every year I make one pie, just one, and it’s this one. Dutch apple pie is Josh’s all-time favorite dessert, so it’s become our little birthday tradition for him. I bake it once a year, usually with flour all over the counters and apples piled high across the kitchen. But this year felt different. It was the first time making it in our new kitchen and somehow the whole thing felt a little more fun and a lot more beautiful. I’m still very much on my cooking and baking journey, so a fully homemade pie is what I’d consider labor intensive, but this space made the process feel special.
It’s made with freshly picked local apples, Alison Roman’s buttery pie crust, and The Food Charlatan’s classic Dutch apple filling as my base, plus a few tweaks of my own. I always pre-cook the apples, blind-bake the crust, and add in a little extra sweetness.
Not to brag, but it’s the best apple pie either of us have ever had. If you’re ready to try it yourself, here’s exactly how I make it (floury counters and all).
Homemade Crust (Alison Roman’s Recipe, Halved for One Disc)
Ingredients
– 1¼ cups all-purpose flour
– 1 teaspoon sugar
– ½ teaspoon kosher salt
– 10 tablespoons (1 stick + 2 Tbsp) unsalted butter, cold and cut into 1-inch pieces
– 1½ teaspoons apple-cider vinegar (or distilled white vinegar)
– 2 tablespoons ice water + more as needed
Instructions
1️⃣ In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, and salt.
2️⃣ Add cold butter pieces and use your hands or a pastry cutter to smash and rub the butter into the flour until you have a mix of pea-sized and flat flour-coated bits.
3️⃣ Drizzle in vinegar and ice water; toss with a fork until shaggy dough just holds when squeezed. Add more water a teaspoon at a time if too dry.
4️⃣ Gather into a ball, flatten into a disc about 1-inch thick, wrap tightly, and refrigerate at least 2 hours (or up to 3 days).
⸻
Apple Filling
Ingredients
– 8 medium-to-large apples (I like to use 2-3 varieties)
– Juice of ½ lemon (≈ 2 Tbsp)
– ½ cup packed light brown sugar
– ½ cup granulated sugar
– ¼ cup all-purpose flour
– ½ tsp kosher salt
– 1½ tsp ground cinnamon (not going to lie, I eyeball this)
– ¾ tsp ground nutmeg
– 2 tsp vanilla extract
– 2 Tbsp unsalted butter (for pre-cooking)
⸻
Streusel Topping
Ingredients
– 1 cup all-purpose flour
– ¼ cup granulated sugar
– ¼ cup packed light brown sugar
– ¼ cup packed dark brown sugar (for extra sweetness and caramel flavor)
– ½ tsp kosher salt (or slightly less if using table salt)
– ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
⸻
Assembly + Baking
Instructions
1️⃣ Roll & chill the crust
Roll the chilled dough into a 12-inch circle. Fit into a 9-inch pie plate, trim and crimp edges, then chill 30 minutes (or freeze 15).
2️⃣ Blind bake
Preheat oven to 400 °F.
Line crust with parchment or foil and fill with pie weights, dried beans, or rice. Bake 15–18 min until edges look set. Remove weights, prick bottom with a fork, and bake 5–7 min more until lightly golden. Cool 10 min.
3️⃣ Pre-cook the apples
Melt 2 Tbsp butter in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add apples, both sugars, flour, salt, spices, and lemon juice. Stir gently and cook 8–10 min until apples just begin to soften and release juice. Remove from heat, stir in vanilla, and cool 15 min.
4️⃣ Make the streusel
Whisk flour, both sugars, dark brown sugar, and salt; pour in melted butter and mix until clumpy crumbles form.
5️⃣ Assemble
Spoon cooled apple mixture into the blind-baked crust, mounding slightly. Sprinkle streusel evenly over top.
6️⃣ Bake
Bake 10 min at 425 °F, then reduce to 350 °F and bake 35–40 min more, until topping is golden and filling is bubbling.
7️⃣ Cool & serve
Cool on a rack at least 2 hours before slicing. Serve warm or at room temp with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
Serving + Storing
Best served warm, ideally with a scoop of Bluebell vanilla ice cream if you can get it. You’ll thank me later for that one! Store covered at room temperature for 1–2 days or in the fridge for up to 5.
🍎 Recipe inspired by @thefoodcharlatan and @alisoneroman, with The Gratz Life twist.
The New Chapter…
It all begins with an idea.
In 2015, I started working at Warby Parker after Josh and I had just moved to San Francisco. I was just a twenty-something trying to find my footing, standing in a bright little store helping people pick out glasses. I had no idea that job would become nearly a decade-long chapter of my life, one that taught me so much about people, leadership, and myself.
My background has always revolved around connection. Retail, hospitality, even cosmetology, every role tied together by a love for people. But if I’m being completely honest, my favorite job of all time was being a barista at Starbucks back in high school. I loved seeing my regulars. I loved how excited they were to see me, and I them. It wasn’t just about the coffee. It was about community, familiarity, and the small joy of being recognized. There’s something so special about starting someone’s morning with a smile and a drink crafted just the way they like it. Even then, I think I was chasing that same feeling I still chase now: creating small moments of beauty that make people feel something.
Over the years, I’ve worn a lot of hats, but none of them ever felt like the one. I’ve always been searching for the thing that made me come alive, the thing that made sense of all the little passions I’ve carried along the way. Design, storytelling, people, and purpose. And somewhere in the middle of life and work and figuring it all out, I stumbled into the world of content creation and design.
It started small. Just sharing pieces of my home, my finds, the things I loved. But it started to grow. It started to connect. What once felt like a hobby began to feel like a calling, something that blended everything I’d always loved into one creative, chaotic, beautiful mix.
So here we are. After nearly ten years of balancing safety with possibility, I finally took the leap. I left my full-time job to pursue content creation and design full-time, and honestly, it still feels surreal to say that out loud.
Am I scared? Without question. There’s uncertainty in every corner, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have moments of doubt. But I also feel so much peace. God’s fingerprints are all over this story. Every twist. Every moment that didn’t make sense at the time. I can see now that He’s been guiding me right here all along.
This new chapter feels like freedom. It feels like standing in the middle of what I was made to do: creating, connecting, sharing beauty, and trusting that the best is still ahead. I’m nervous, I’m grateful, I’m hopeful, and more than anything, I’m ready.
And in every way that matters, I feel like we’re just getting started…