01. Summarize your life in a few sentences.
Man, I’m not quite sure how to answer this. My life is crazy, and busy, and loads of fun! I am somewhat of a person that can not sit still for long, so I tend to be a little bit all over the place. I teach full time, love to travel, and own this amazing business. I have an incredible family who does nothing but love and support me. I have the cutest nephew and two more (nieces or nephews) on the way! God has truly blessed me with unbelievable relationships and I can’t wait to see what he has in store for my future.
02. What’s your background?
Funny enough, I graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and have never taken a formal art class. In college, I was really interested in photography, so I started a small photography business. After doing a couple of weddings though, I could tell that it wasn’t for me. I had always grown up with an obsession for lettering and that is how I got started with A Mint Macaroon. I really have no background in art or business, so I pretty much just learn as I go!
03. How did you get started as an entrepreneur?
If I’m being honest, I just took a huge leap of faith and went for it! I mean I have always had the “entrepreneurial spirit”, but have no background whatsoever. I started out by teaching myself calligraphy through some online videos and creating small projects for myself to showcase. Slowly, people started asking me to design prints and invitations for them. After a couple of months though, I knew that designing and selling products was more the route I wanted to go, so I opened an online shop!
04. What inspired you as a creative woman?
I think other creative women actually! You never really think that it is possible to own a creative business, and yet so many people do it. When I was living down in Nashville this past summer, the women of The Rising Tide Society really encouraged me to follow this dream. Their prayers and personal testimonies really inspired me to fully commit myself to A Mint Macaroon.
05. What was your first job ever? Any funny or memorable story?
My first job was working as a cashier at CVS Pharmacy. Call me crazy, but I actually loved it! It definitely had its fair share of awkward and very memorable stories though. I can remember once, a lady came in and asked to use the restroom, which I had to unlock at the back of the store. I was walking rather quickly to make sure that the door would be open by the time she got back there. The only problem was that she was trying to walk just as fast to keep up with me. I was holding the door open as she was swiftly moving down the center aisle towards me and it seemed her footing got confused and she started to go down. After many unbalanced steps, she ended up falling into the magazine rack we had up for display. I had no idea what to do, so as the dork that I am I just said, “Would you like to purchase a cane? We just got them in this week!”. Pretty sure she never step foot in our store again.
06. If you won a lottery today, will you still continue to build your business?
100% yes. It is true what they say that you kind of treat your business like it’s your baby. It has been such a dream of mine to create products for my own shop that I don’t think I could ever give it up. Plus, so many friends and family members have supported me immensely throughout this whole endeavor that it would only seem right to keep it going for them too!
07. Walk us through your day as the owner of A Mint Macaroon.
Oh boy, well everyday looks so different, but here is my best description of a typical day. I definitely always start by checking and responding to any emails. Then, I usually get some bookkeeping out of the way. Once I can get those two things done, I feel like the rest of the day allows me to be creative. Generally, it is filled with setting up shoots to showcase products, planning my Instagram page, and creating new designs. It’s really a dream.
08. What has been the highlight of your career thus far?
I think the highlight of my career has been being featured on May Designs. They are a company that I absolutely adore and regularly obsess over their patterns. When I had the opportunity to be their artist for Motivation Monday, I was beyond pumped! It was so cool to be featured on a page that I had looked up to for years.
09. Where or what do you think you will be/do in the next 5 years?
Right now, I also hold another job being a 7th grade math teacher. In 5 years, I would love for A Mint Macaroon to be my full time job and also be able to add a few others to the team. I think part of the joy of starting your own business is to eventually be able provide others with jobs. So hopefully in 5 (or maybe 10) years that will be possible for A Mint Macaroon.
10. Share a quote/advice that you’d like to tell the 25-year-old you.
I’m not quite to 25 yet, so I guess I get to say something to my future self! What I would love to tell myself in a year is to look back at every single person who supported me along the way. I would hope that they feel appreciated and that they realize the great effect that they have had on me personally and my business.