Picture a little, blonde haired toddler standing on a bench, pretending to drink from a waterfall and bouncing with her hands in the air.  Too young to have self-doubt, fear, complacency or insecurity.  Fully embracing life’s wonder and adventure with a fierce spirit that can’t be contained.

Adeline at Castille de san Marco

It’s these little moments in the past year where I’ve realized I want to have that courage.

I want to stop thinking about the “someday” and create an uncommon life with my family now.  In 2015.

This blog is my landing page.  It’s going to be a hub for entrepreneurship, creativity and inspiration.  Travels and adventures with family.  Intentional parenting.   And toddler fashion, interior design and all things pinterest-worthy. (of course)

I’m in the beginning stages of what I keep hearing called as “crafting your own life,” one with more time for things you love, more freedom and more adventure.

So, before I tell you where I’m at now, let me tell you where I’ve been. 

awkward… that’s me, the oldest one that’s not a twin.

Growing up, I always knew I would be a professional ballet dancer in a company.  I went to University of Arizona to pursue ballet.  Long story short, it didn’t work out.  I had a stress-fractured toe that got worse and worse and I didn’t seem to fit into the competitive dance environment.  I still had an amazing time – I joined an indie band, rode around in a mini-van with a mattress and free-roaming gobstoppers, learned to use a shaker simultaneously while singing at coffee shops and met my future husband and best friend / adventure partner at a CD release show for our two bands (side note: he was wearing his 10 year old sister’s witch costume).  it. was. a. blast.

CD release show where I met Jake.

After ballet was no longer an option – my passion – I had a hard time figuring out what else I would do with my life.  I thought about journalism, anthropology, interior design… but eventually decided that since I had a passion for kids and God, it only made sense to follow my heart and become a youth pastor.

So that was it.  I transferred to Colorado Christian University as a youth ministry major. Soon, my college prep-school background kicked into gear and I changed my major to theology, because my professors were so intriguing and smart.  We had an Oxford grad, a Yale grad and a Stanford grad and I LOVED what I was learning.   I contemplated studying abroad at Oxford for a semester, but the semester schedule would have made it extend my 4 years by one semester, which meant a ton more in student loans.

I decided I would someday get my masters and PHD in historic theology and become a professor.  Jake and I would move to Oxford and I would get to experience new cultures and learn from the greats everyday.  What more could you ask for?

But in the meantime, I worked the death shift at Starbucks (4:30am – 9:30am), went to school, and then drove to my other job, a front desk admin. at a contemporary ballet company.

This was a great time of life for me.  I developed a super hard work-ethic that would come in handy.  I learned what it meant to live modestly and be content (Jake and I were newlyweds and we would shovel driveways every time it snowed for a bit of extra fun money.)  I got free iced white mochas every morning (and gained the weight to prove it), was fully engaged in theology and being a student (I could be a forever student), and then got to go work with kids and families with the beautiful classical music of professional ballet company rehearsing in the background.

Our wedding getaway.

I was happy, but stuck in the zone of “Someday, I’ll do _________,” but for now, this is my job.  Someday I’ll travel and experience different cultures, do mission work, get back into ballet, experiment with interior design, but for now, it’s coffee making and front desk working.  Someday I’ll do what I know I was created to do, but for now, I’ll just work really hard on what’s in front of me.

Meanwhile, Jake (husband) purchased a portable carpet cleaning machine from Craigslist, hung up the super cute (aka clipart tacky chic) flyers I made for him all around our apartment complex and Jake’s Carpet Cleaning was born.

After about a year and a half, Jake’s Carpet Cleaning was growing and Jake needed a business partner.  Since I was already doing admin. at my job, he asked me to come on.  I jumped at the opportunity.

Jake has always had an entrepreneurial spirit.  He grew up helping his Dad’s company, started an xBox repair company, (shoveled driveways).

At the summit of Mt. Bierstadt, a Colorado 14-er

My Dad and Mom both owned companies growing up, and I always remember my Dad saying “You can do anything you set your mind to,” but I didn’t necessarily consider myself an entrepreneur.

Those first few years working together with Jake was a crash course in business basics – legal, financial, marketing, branding – and marriage counseling.  We even wrote in our Articles of Organization that it’s mandatory we go through marriage counseling before ever selling or dissolving the business (if it ever came to that).  For those of you familiar with Meyers-Briggs, I’m an INFJ and Jake is an ENTP, and at one point when we took it, it basically said “these two types should NEVER work together.”  I also remember one late night, probably spent arguing about the cost per day of water damage restoration dehumidifiers (stimulating, I know) and he told me if things didn’t change, he would have to fire me. (LOL)

BUT, we made it through!  We learned to create super clear boundaries: he was the big pictures, technical and sales guy and I was the processes, customer service, marketing and company culture girl.

Jake and I outside our very 1st store front.

In 2012, we went to Beaver Creek for a business development getaway.  We worked through Tony Robbin’s “Ultimate Business Mastery” video course for a weekend and took advantage of all the 50% off pre-season deals at the luxury restaurants.

One of the seminars veered from actual practical business knowledge and talked about living according to your strengths and passions.  I distinctly remember going down for dinner, sitting in front of a raging fire, and telling Jake, “I don’t really think this is my zone.  This isn’t my passion.  But I’m willing to do it alongside you so we can grow something for our family.”

A part of me wishes I would have listened to that whisper then.  But if I had, I wouldn’t have gained the invaluable business knowledge and entrepreneurial experience I’ve gained through Jake’s.  Thank you Barnes and Noble business book section and l o n g bubble baths.

First family photo of 4. Credit: Blissful Impressions

Flash forward to 2015.   We had two beautiful daughters, Adeline and Aria, our first home and Jake’s is in it’s 5th year of business.  We had a rough year last year, and amidst the perfect storm had some moments of clarity.

And in a few short months, so much is changing.  And it’s awesome.  I can’t wait to share it with you.

Stay tuned for Part 2 of this post for the update and all the elements that helped finally catapult Jake and I into making some radical changes.  This next chapter of life is about veering from the plan and creating our uncommon lives with our families.  I can’t wait to share the journey with you and hear from you along the way.

– Hillary

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