07/13/2026
*UPDATE*
Wow-we! Sounds like I need to get more shirts ordered. Keep in mind that they are oversized, so you’ll want to size down 1-2 sizes. Drop your size below or send me a DM.
When I was younger, I used to love going shopping. We didn’t have a ton of money growing up or if we did, my parent’s did a really good job of pretending that we didn’t. 😉 I would save all of the “fancy” bags and I had a pretend store in my bedroom. I didn’t necessarily look forward to actually making a purchase — I simply enjoyed the experience. You’d walk into a store and end up staying a little longer than you had planned on. You’d actually talk to people, laugh and even discover something you weren’t even looking for. Unfortunately, somewhere along the way, shopping became more about convenience.
But, it’s one of the main reasons I do not have an online store and most likely never will. When you shop with a small business, you’re not supporting a brand, you’re supporting a real person. Someone who knows your kids’ names. Someone who celebrates your milestones. Someone who notices when you haven’t stopped in for a while and truly wonders how you’re doing. I can’t even begin to tell you how many conversations have happened in this special space that had absolutely nothing to do with someone making a purchase. Honestly, most of my favorite moments have nothing to do with making a sale at all.
They are the days spent catching up with customers who have become my friends. The babies I’ve watched grow up over the last (almost) 12 years. The stories shared across the cash wrap. The laughter that somehow turns a quick stop into an hour-long visit. And that’s the part that I never want to lose. I want this place to be more than just a store. I want it to be somewhere you can slow down. Somewhere your kids are welcome. Somewhere you feel seen and known. Somewhere to stay a little longer than you meant to.
Most of us small business owners aren’t competing with the shop down the street, we’re competing with a world that feels increasingly disconnected. And, maybe that’s why small businesses matter now more than ever. Not because we’re small, but because we’re human. The disconnect over the last 3+ weeks has been the hardest part for me.
I ordered these shirts prior to the tornado hitting. I didn’t know that my business would be closing. I didn’t know that I would be grieving what love to do. But, I do know beautiful moments have already happened through the messy.
What if we all have our eyes opened to the amazing small businesses in our town? What if we truly get out and support the ones who sponsor your teams, put an ad in the local yearbook, donate weekly to your benefits and fundraisers? What if everything turns out for the best?
