Turning 31: What I’ve Learned About Business and Motherhood
December 3rd — my birthday. A day that always makes me pause and reflect on God’s goodness, and take inventory of my life… the ups and downs, what God has taught me, and the areas of life that I want to change for next year. This year feels a bit different… heavier, weightier.
This past year, my husband and I officially hit the one-year mark of starting our businesses — Story Reimagined for me, and Above The Shoulders for him. In just twelve months, we’ve learned a bit of what works, what doesn’t, stumbled through new strategies, worked with incredible clients, refined our offers, and made some money (not a lot yet, as expected in Year One). We also packed up our life in California, moved across the country to Florida, and welcomed our baby into the world!
It has been a year of transition layered on transition — and through it all, we’ve grown stronger, clearer, and more united in our vision.
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Lesson 1: There’s Strength in Slowing Down
I’ve always been someone who thrives on productivity. I’ve worked full-time since my college years, and being able to pay my bills and provide for life has always been a necessity.
But being married and becoming a mother shifted everything… in the most grounding way.
With a baby, time looks different. Energy looks different. Priorities look different. Instead of working simultaneously on 15 tasks, slowing down has forced me to focus on the needle-moving tasks — the things that matter and will push the business forward.
This year, I learned how to:
Work with one client at a time, giving them my full attention
Prioritize launching templates to create more passive, flexible income
Let my business grow at the pace of my motherhood season
Lean into support from my husband, even when it felt uncomfortable
Learning to rely on him more — emotionally, practically, financially — stretched me in ways I needed. And it brought us closer as a team, aligned and moving toward the same mission.
If this season of your life is also slower, or more intentional… I want to remind you that slowing down doesn’t need to stop your success. It sharpens it.
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Lesson 2: Systems Are Everything
If slowing down was the first lesson, building systems was the second.
Because when your time is limited, systems become a superpower!
This year, I started automating everything I could:
Email workflows
Scheduling consultations
Web design questionnaires
Contracts and onboarding
Payment flows
HoneyBook became my home base — a place where inquiries, automations, scheduling, and forms all run without me manually pushing every button.
Systems don’t just make things easier — they create freedom. They allow me to take maternity leave, to breastfeed without rushing back to my inbox, to enjoy dinner without feeling behind.
Lesson 3: Boundaries Are Loving
One of the biggest things motherhood taught me is this:
Boundaries aren’t harsh. Boundaries are loving.
This year, I built boundaries for myself, for my clients, and for my family:
Set work hours (I could be stricter on this one)
Limited meeting availability (40 minutes max)
Clear expectations and deadlines from Day One
Protected time for breastfeeding, naps, mealtime, weekends, and holidays
I want my clients to know I’m committed to their success. I also want my daughter to know she has my presence. And I want my husband to have a wife who isn’t constantly half-working in the background.
You get 24 hours each day — use them wisely!! Choosing when and how you work is what gives you the freedom everyone talks about in entrepreneurship.
This structure actually helps me show up clearer and stronger for my clients, because they know exactly when I’m available — and so does my family.
Lesson 4: Your Business Is Allowed to Evolve With You
Your business is not meant to stay the same. It’s meant to adapt, expand, and shift with your life, including what’s working and not working. What you find enjoyable, and what you can accomplish with excellence.
This year, we:
Moved across the country
Became parents
Rebuilt routines
Started new businesses
Adjusted to new schedules
And because of that, my business looked different than last year — and next year will look different again. There are seasons for building, seasons for refining, seasons for resting, and seasons for scaling.
Motherhood gave me permission to let my business grow with me, instead of trying to force myself into a mold I outgrew.
In 2026, with more rhythm, more clarity, and more stability, I already know my offers and capacity will grow — and I’m excited for that.
A Final Thank You 💛
If you’re reading this, you’ve been part of this journey — whether as a client, supporter, follower, or cheering-from-afar creative mom navigating her own beautifully chaotic season.
Thank you for being here. Thank you for allowing me to help bring your business dreams to life. Here’s to another year of growth, motherhood, creativity, and courage.
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or
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Your next chapter deserves a website that grows right along with you. 💛
