JUST TAKE THE LEAP, JESSICA. My new business idea + a last-minute Paris trip ♥️

On feeling stagnant and stuck in my career (can it all be chalked up to motherhood?) and how I'm following creativity again. (I leave tomorrow!!! 🤯)

Surprise! (To you AND me?!) I just did what is probably the most impulsive thing I’ve ever done: I acted on a little idea I couldn’t stop thinking about—and booked a flight to Paris A WEEK OUT. (Shoutout to my incredibly supportive husband and my mother-in-law tag-teaming with June so I could take this time away.)

It all started a few nights ago while texting with my friend Jess—my ultimate cheerleader for this wild idea and now my official partner in crime to make it happen. (She usually goes to Paris at least once a year, so I think she was just excited for an excuse to get back to France in 2025—but whatever, I’m still giving her Friend of the Year award!! 😂)

When we realized the only time we could both swing a trip was… next week?! we had one of those “ARE WE NUTS? ARE WE REALLY DOING THIS??” moments. (Spoiler: that’s been the theme of my week so far.)

We agreed to “just book the flights to lock in the price” (because they were weirdly VERY cheap?!), figuring we could cancel in 24 hours after we mulled it over some more.

Well… 24 hours came and went—and we didn’t cancel. 😂 So now it’s official!

We leave tomorrow!

“Uninspired 36-year-old mom seeks to find creative soul again.”

Lately, I've been doing a lot of (I kind of hate this phrase but…) “soul searching.” This is the third—maybe fourth?—year in a row that I’ve rolled into January feeling creatively uninspired, stagnant, and just… a bit aimless when it comes to my career.

Motherhood, in so many ways, has been more fulfilling than I ever thought possible. But with work? There was something missing. I felt like everyone around me was moving forward into exciting new chapters and new ventures, and I was just... stuck. Like, “Is this it? Is this all there is? This instagram rat race hamster wheel?” (Or is it just a motherhood thing? I just don’t care as much about anything else? Is that what this is? Why do I feel so “meh?”)

This community (yes, YOU, reading this right now! ♥️) has always been the most inspiring and special part of what I do. Connecting with you, helping in some small way—that’s the heart of everything. But the work I’ve had to do to actually make a living? That’s an entirely different story.

I’ve been doing this a long time, and in that time, the influencer marketing industry, in my opinion, has become increasingly corporate and more demanding (as with ANY industry that starts out new and grows over time!) with less and less room for true creativity and as a result, authenticity.

Brands are asking for more, more, more. (To be fair, I mean, they have the right to, this is business, after all.) More creative control, faster turnarounds, and demanding higher ROI—and your success or failure is completely at the mercy of Meta’s ever-changing algorithm and whether you’re “playing the game” correctly.

For a girl who busted her ass to leave behind the corporate lifestyle she was not suited for, it’s starting to feel a whole lot like...corporate life?

(I’m painting a broad stroke here, this certainly does not apply to all brand partners. There are many I adore and hope to continue working with always. Nor does this mean that I’m not in love with every brand and the products I post and recommend–sponsored or unsponsored, it’s just the nature of the “influencer business” on the back-end, so to speak, that has grown into something that feels very different than what it used to, and frankly, is making me feel old and tired. 😂)

Little Jess and one of her first “big breaks” in 2014 getting to do a style segment on WGN Chicago local news!

Let’s back up to how it all started: (In case you’re curious)

I launched my blog in 2012 with blood, sweat, tears, very little money and very little sleep—and SO much passion. At first, it was just for fun—a creative outlet to balance out my not-so-creative job where I was scraping by as an account executive at a big ad firm. I remember thinking, “Maybe one day maybe I could make $100 a month from this! A girl can dream!” 😂

But as I kept working, my confidence grew, my goals got bigger, and I didn’t stop. I wanted out of corporate America, and I was betting on this as my ticket. A few years later, I turned that little blog into my full-time job.

Building this business was a crash course in fully immersing myself in YouTube and google and teaching myself every creative skill from photography to photo editing, social media strategy to graphic design, even some light coding. There were no online courses back then teaching people how to be “bloggers” or “influencers”–this was back before the word “influencer” even existed!

It was also networking, it was pitching myself, it was being THRILLED to put in hours of work for a paltry sum of money. It was dozens of mini creative endeavors all laddered into one. There was always more to learn, research, test, implement, try out, have fun with.

The best part of that growth was the growing community of women that came with it. Not only was I doing something I loved, but I was getting to connect with the coolest women reading my blog and following me on Instagram–YOU ALL!

Being able to do something professionally that lights me up AND makes your day a little brighter and HELPS other women? To this day, there’s nothing more rewarding!

Eventually my hustling paid off. I could afford to buy more than ramen noodles!! All the skills I taught myself lead to a bridge creative job which meant I could leave my corporate job in advertising that was sucking the soul out of my body! (Even though I was, and still am, obsessed with the people I met along the way. ♥️ Especially my bosses!) And shortly after, I left that job to blog and freelance full time.

Over the next few years, I grew my business to a place that was actually comfortable and stable. I was getting PAID to do this! Then to the point where I hired a manager (!!) (love you Molly!) which lead to making more than I would be making had I been promoted in my ad job!

It was truly the dream for a girl with her “little blog” who could once never NOT envision scraping by just to pay rent every month. Who moved to Chicago with $500 in her bank account, who had grown so accustomed to be nervous about money 24/7.

This photo is from one of my first blog posts in 2012, taken during a day of vintage shopping with my friend Kai. (Notice that art? It now lives in my kitchen. 😉 Also I still have this (faux) fur coat!)

…and how it’s going now:

The expectations for influencers kept climbing, along with the nonstop pressure to crank out content just to “keep up,” let alone grow. Brand demands got higher and higher. The more the landscape changed, the more I kept thinking, Wow, this feels a lot like what I thought I was escaping when I left my ad agency job.

The platforms that once existed purely for creativity and fun when I started blogging? Those morphed into…well, what Meta is today. (And remember Twitter?! 😅) That lighthearted, playfulness was replaced by a relentless “keep up with the algorithm” mentality. (And we’re not even going to get into the other dark sides of Meta and social media, LOL.)

Then came the pandemic—and having a baby during said pandemic. I felt so aligned in my new role as a mom, but when it came to work, I couldn’t shake this nagging sense of listlessness and creative burnout. I didn’t exactly know what the root cause was. I just knew something felt off.

So I decided to go easy on myself and coast for a while (which I wrote about in this post). I figured inspiration would find me again eventually. (Spoiler: I didn’t think it would take 3.5 years 🙃). But looking back, that break was exactly what I needed.

As they say, hindsight is 20/20. For a while, I chalked that “stuck” feeling up to the transition into motherhood, but it was more than that. The truth is, I had evolved—and so had the industry—and we just didn’t fit together the same way anymore. As the saying goes, “what got you here won’t get you there.”

It felt kind of like going on maternity leave and coming back to find your company had been bought out by a big corporation and everything had changed. (Okay, maybe not exactly like that—but it honestly feels pretty close!)

And while I’ve always envisioned staying in this space because I love this community so much (yes, there are days I fantasize about deleting social media forever, but I promise I’m not going anywhere, I’d miss you all too terribly!), I was desperately in need of a shake-up—both creatively and financially. I wanted to explore new ways of making a living that would actually light me up again AND deliver value to you.

But where do you even start when you’ve identified the problem but have no idea what comes next? I kept wondering if I would ever feel that spark again, like I did when I first started back in 2012.

Also, side note for a second: I want to FULLY acknowledge the level of privilege here. I know how lucky I am to have built this career. To have this job –ANY JOB–that helps provide for my family, but especially one where I can make my own hours, be my own boss, and so many more privileges many do not have. At a time when many others are struggling. I don’t share this to complain. I am SO grateful for what we have. Often I felt guilty for wanting more. But then I wondered… has there ever been a man who felt guilty or ungrateful for wanting more? 🙃

Then Substack came along!

Then Substack came along—and wow, it’s sparked more joy and creativity than anything has in a long time. (Even though it took me way longer than I wanted to get it up and running—thanks to being buried under draining projects and, you know, the holidays 🫠). I didn’t realize just how much I missed writing.

It reminds me of the “old school” blogging days, but with even better features—especially the way it gives YOU ALL access to one another. We’re all craving more connection, and this platform puts community right at the forefront. ♥️

I won’t go TOO into detail about Substack and how I got here, but you can read this post for more!

In fact, it’s one of my main goals of 2025 is to grow this Substack community, hopefully providing you all with a ton of value in exchange for the equivalent of a latte per month– which allows me to get back to actually creating more content for *US*–you and me– instead of a corporate brand agenda.

(Pssssst this photo is a hint!)

So, here I am, energized by the opportunity of Substack and excited to really focus on my content here come 2025. ♥️

But there was oneeeee other little bitty idea I had tinkering around in the back of my head.

I kept thinking about conversations I’d had this year. I’d catch myself saying, “I’ve always been a vintage lover–my dream job would be traveling all around, sourcing vintage finds from amazing flea markets around the world!”

Then, right in the middle of Q4 madness—tears almost daily from the aforementioned stressful partnerships–I had a moment. I thought, Why couldn’t I do that? Why not bring the magic of Paris flea markets to my readers? They love vintage as much as I do!!

It sounded a little crazy (honestly, it still does), but exploring this also felt so right. I honestly couldn’t even tell you WHY. I just *know* something is telling me “go to Paris!”

So there you have it, friends:

I’m going shopping at the Paris fleas—for ALL OF US. Filling my suitcases with art prints, scarves, jewelry, home accessories, and more. When I get back, I’ll be dropping my one-of-a-kind finds for you to shop on my Instagram! Bringing the best of the brocantes to you, no passport needed! ♥️

How this all came together:

Not long after brainstorming, I needed validation for my idea. I shared it with Neal, who was all in, then with a few trusted entrepreneurial friends. Jess was one of the first!

I think I said something like…

“Well, I’ve been obsessed with vintage my whole life, shopping antique malls since I was 12. It’s one of my longest passions, as is travel. So, I was thinking of testing this idea—how could I weave the two together? What about just going to Paris, scouring the flea markets, filling suitcases with vintage art prints, home accessories, scarves, jewelry, and more—then selling them on Instagram so my readers can shop the Paris fleas from anywhere. Is that crazy?”

Jess, being the wonderful friend and fellow creative, adventure-loving soul that she is, was immediately on board and to my absolute DELIGHT, agreed to come along for the adventure, helping me document the whole process, so I could bring all of you along for the ride. ♥️

Turns out, the only time we could swing a trip was…next week?!

We joked it sounded crazy, but if the Universe wanted us in Paris, it would send us signs.

And boy, did it! 🤯 Flights were ridiculously cheap, Airbnbs were a steal, and so many more wild things fell into place–I need to write them all down and share them with you later. (If that is of interest, lol.)

Another “blog photo” from 2014 (before I figured out how to use a professional camera) LOL note the Instagram filter + black frame. Even back then, yapping about vintage housewares!

OF COURSE I DO NOT KNOW WHAT I’M DOING!

It’s funny—when I started sharing this idea with a couple more people, I got all kinds of questions: “Are you starting a new brand? What’s it going to be called? Have you built a website? What about Etsy? You should use Shopify!” And my answers? Nope, no, negative and no again. 😂

I have no idea what I’m doing! I’m going into this unattached to the outcome, following a lifelong love of vintage and a little ping from the Universe.

This isn’t about being precious or getting stuck on “official steps.”

I’m not wasting time building the perfect website or crafting a whole business plan when I don’t even know what Step 2 is yet.

This is about feeling creatively expansive for the first time in years.

So I’m doing it my way—the way I always have. Authentically sharing all the things I love, and bringing you, my online best friends, along for the ride.

Not just to Paris or flea markets, but through this messy, uncertain journey of figuring *THIS* all out. (Whatever *THIS* turns out to be. 😂)

Because I KNOW I’m not the only one who feels stuck, unsure of the next chapter. It’s easy to let all the “what ifs” hold us back, and to feel like we have to have everything “figured out” in order to pursue an idea.

I’ve decided life’s too short to overthink it—the only way to figure out where you’re going is to take the first step.

Most importantly? If I want June to grow up to be a woman who refuses to settle and ruthlessly chases after a life she dreams of—even when it feels crazy—I have to be that woman myself.

Maybe I’ll come out of this and think, “That was fun, I’m glad I tried it, but it’s not for me.”

OR maybe I’ll be like, “THIS IS IT! Get me a shipping container, baby–we’re 10xing this thing! South of France, England, Morocco, Portugal—here we come. We’re planning reader antiquing trips, we are doing an Auntie Antiques Roadshow shopping events–we are DOING THE THING!!”

Orrrrr maybe it’ll land somewhere in between. 😂 Who knows?

Honestly, part of me hesitated to share this whole backstory because I didn’t want anyone thinking, “She never finishes what she starts.” But that’s not the point—the point is starting.

I really wish more people (especially women, and especially moms!) shared their messy beginnings—the times when they don’t have all the answers and are following their heart and trusting in the process, not sure of where it will lead.

So if I can be one of those women for someone else, that’s the least I can do.

One of my favorite things I heard this year is, “Your intuition doesn’t give you all the steps at once—just the first one, then the next, and the next.”

If you’re feeling stuck, just take the step. It’s always a step in the right direction. I truly believe that, and I hope I can be an example of it for you.

Every GOOD idea started as a CRAZY idea. Why not you? Why not now?

If you want to change something, you have to change something.

Make no mistake, I’ve been SO in my head about this. I have written and re-written this post so many times. I am dragging my feet on hitting publish. (And truthfully I was going to put it behind the paywall because this feels very personal and vulnerable to share so widely, and it feels “safer” to keep it with my smaller, more intimate group–but I also don’t want to gate keep it. I want everyone to be in on this story–the magic AND the messiness of it all–and be able to watch it all unfold at the ground level!)

I’ve been doubting myself more than usual—definitely off-brand for me.

I think its easy to look at someone online and think they have all the confidence in the world. So let me be clear: I’m doing this scared. 😬 And I know this will be a MASSIVE, incredibly humbling learning curve.

Who am I to be doing this? Is this even a viable business idea? I’ve never sold physical products! I know nothing about shipping, inventory, pricing, or sales tax! I haven’t been to Paris in three years! I’ve never sourced vintage for anyone but myself! I’m not an antiques expert! What if nobody even cares about this!?

But as my mom always says, “Being brave doesn’t mean you’re not scared. Being brave means you’re scared and you do it anyway.”

So, here I am—taking the leap.

Buckle up, Aunties, we’re going to Paris!!!! 😬

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Join our Paris chat thread where I’ll be sharing live updates each day, where you can ask any Paris questions (travel reccos, etc!) Also, let me know in the chat if you are looking for any vintage gems in particular so I can be on the lookout to source it for you! ♥️

Thank you all, from the absolute bottom of my heart, for your support always–whether you’ve been here from the beginning (the GG years!) or you are a new face here–this community means EVERYTHING to me and not only do you give my job meaning, but knowing you has enriched my life in so many ways. There is no other community like the Aunties and I’m just so lucky to know you.

ANDD I hope if you’ve been feeling uninspired lately that this post makes you feel a little bit less alone, and encourages you to keep following your crazy ideas on the hunt for your “next chapter.” Please let me know how I (and everyone else here!) can support you!

Love you, see you in Paris. 😍

Jess

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