Making Room by Gather
Hospitality. What do you think of when you hear that word?
For some it's old school 'stuffy' entertaining for others it's something to do with the hotel industry. One thing is for sure, as a culture we're not talking about it much.
Food * Design * Relationships have seemed to have taken a back seat to what our culture focuses on and values yet...we find ourselves in the midst of a loneliness epidemic. Something has to change, it's time to get back to our tables, and we're making room for it!
Making Room by Gather invites you into a new conversation on everyday hospitality. One that rewrites the way we approach opening your doors and filling your tables. Shifting the narrative from 'how does this make me look' to 'how does this make you feel' these buildable conversations aspire to inspire connection through everyday gathering.
Kayty's chic and a little quirky interview style will make you feel like you're sitting with a friend talking about how to grow in confidence as an everyday host. You can expect conversations from navigating challenging relationship dynamics to foundational cooking techniques and everything in between.
Whether you are a seasoned host or looking to develop new friendships and grow in your skills for the first time, there is a seat at the table. Join us weekly for new conversations with expert guests and with Kayty in her beloved Date with Kayt episodes. Continue the conversation @gatheritentionalliving
Making Room by Gather
Simple Activities Creating Lasting Memories w/ Creative Crayons Workshop
Meet Shannon Bennett, the innovative creator behind Creative Crayons Workshop, who transformed her homeschool DIY projects into a celebrated brand. Taking us through her journey, Shannon shares how her four kids have been the cornerstone of her inspiration and success. With eight years of experience under her belt, she discusses the importance of evolving and learning in the entrepreneurial world while maintaining a focus on screen-free activities that forge family connections.
Imagine your child’s birthday party with a personalized coloring tablecloth that not only entertains but becomes a cherished keepsake. Shannon’s custom-designed tablecloths have revolutionized celebrations, making them memorable for kids and adults alike. We talk about how we incorporate one into Wesley’s first birthday, and why I chose to have one in the first place. From theme selection to final proofs, we dive into the effortless customization process that ensures each event is unique and special.
Turning to budget-friendly ways to keep guests engaged, we discuss simple yet impactful activities to incorporate into your next event. Drawing from personal experiences, I highlight how these activities can bring joy without hefty expenses. Shannon and I also delve into the complexities of growing a small family business while preserving genuine customer relationships. This episode is perfect for anyone who is looking to grow in their hospitality by incorporating unique details.
Get your own coloring wall here
This Episode is Sponsored By:
Feast & Fettle get $25 off your first week of hand crafted, flavor packed meals delivered straight to your door so you can soak up the season with code GATHER at checkout
Watch our Youtube episodes here!
Hey everybody, welcome back to Making Room. I'm so glad you're here. I was just talking to our new friend, shannon. I cozied up for this one. It's been a long week if you've been following along our batch record and, oh my gosh, so many rich conversations. This is going to be a great season on the show, and today's conversation is not going to be any different. It's going to be another incredible one, especially if you are a mama and following along with Wesley's first birthday party details and everything surrounding that. We haven't talked as much about kids' parties or kind of like kid-focused conversations lately on the show, and so this is going to be extra sweet.
Speaker 1:If you are a parent listening, which I would imagine if you clicked on this, you are. It is likely that you are in the middle of a busy season and Feast and Fettle wants to come alongside you and help make it a little bit easier, a little bit healthier, a little bit more flavor packed. So if you live in the Northeast, this is for you specifically. If you need help getting dinner on your table. This is basically like having a private chef they deliver everything to your door table. This is basically like having a private chef they deliver everything to your door, ready to eat. No opening packages, no cooking, no prep at all. It's fresh, ready, healthy, you could feel good about it and not compromise on flavor at all. I was joking with my Instagram followers this week I did not prepare food well and I've been having gluten-free chicken nuggets which my listeners are probably like wait, are you serious? And I should have ordered feast and fettle. That's what they're there for, and so take $50 off your first week as a gift from them and from us.
Speaker 1:But let's talk about our friend Shannon. So Shannon was challenged to make something from nothing. A trash to trash Wow, that is a tongue twister Trash to treasure project of sorts. I'm being a homeschool mom of four children who loved coloring. Shannon Bennett always had broken crayons around the house. Shannon and her kids peeled, melted and repurpose those um cast away crayons, reviving them into new, fun, toy-like shapes and uh, which is how Shannon fell backwards into the business of coloring. I love that. That's really sweet.
Speaker 1:Known now as Creative Crayons Workshop, the brand has been quick to receive a playful reputation for creative fun as Shannon began designing coloring tablecloths for various holidays and celebrations, from retail stores to a monthly subscription and endless birthday parties in between. These uniquely themed coloring designs are bringing more and more families around the table, together to fulfill their desires of creativity and connection through the art of coloring. I love looking at coloring that way. Being a mom-made brand is a badge of honor Creative Crayons Workshop wears proudly. Every coloring design is made with heart, made with the heart of families in mind, designed to promote not only creativity but relational, screen-free fun as well. And you know we are all about that here at Making Room and in the Helgerson households.
Speaker 1:And without waiting any longer, let's get into this week's conversation. Hi, I'm Katie, a hospitality educator and the host of Making Room by Gather podcast. I am set to see our communities get back to the table through hospitality, but it wasn't always this way. My husband and I moved to Thailand and through it I experienced some loneliness and with it I was given a choice to sit back and accept it or to do something about it. And for me that meant two things that I needed the healing to learn how to accept an invitation and the confidence to know how to extend one. Through this process, I developed some of the richest and deepest relationships of my life.
Speaker 1:Through Making Room by Gather, you will hear conversations from myself and experts in the areas of food, design and relationships. You see, there are countless things trying to keep us from the table. But can I tell you something? Take a seat because you are ready, you are capable, you are a good host. Okay, welcome, so glad you're here. Let's do this. Oh, and you are muted. Let's unmute you. There we go, hi, oh my goodness, this is the last episode of a very exciting batch record and I am so excited to end on this note. And it's very timely because as soon as I'm done with this episode, we are starting full blown Wesley's party weekend planning. I know there is a lot my my followers. This week I kept saying like, oh, when I'm done with this episode, I'm going to do this. I got nothing done for the party all week, so it starts now.
Speaker 1:So we shared a little bit about your background journey to business in your bio. I'm curious is there anything else that you want to add as people learn about you and your brand, like the road to here?
Speaker 2:Yeah, so it's. It hasn't been a quick road. It's almost eight years now since we started this. My youngest was a baby on my hip when this began and now she's in second grade. Yeah, so it's been really sweet and interesting. When I stepped onto the path of this road, I had no clue where it would take me and it just has continued to evolve and grow and change and it's been a lot of fun and I have four kids, so they're along for the ride, you know, right beside me, and it's just, it's been pretty amazing. It's definitely a constant learning, learning journey, I guess for all of us, but I'm super, super, super grateful for it.
Speaker 1:Wow, yeah, I think that's one thing people don't realize is the constant. You know you called it a journey, you called it a road, like the constant changes and eight years in, and you know there's been a few parts of our journey where people are like, are you sure you want to keep going? It's like oh, yeah, yeah, like the bend is right ahead and changes happen so quickly and it's worth sticking it out. So I'm so glad that you guys did.
Speaker 2:Yeah, thank you so much yeah.
Speaker 1:So we're going to talk a lot more about like what you offer, how you're involved in Wesley's party and all of that we're very excited about. But I love knowing that you're a homeschool mom and I'm trying to think I don't. We've had a lot of like mom, kind of like boss moms on the show. You know, I don't know that anyone has had a background in homeschooling. And to be a homeschool mom and a business owner goodness gracious that you have your hands full it's a lot. It's a lot. But when you know, you know, and we're not sure what we're going to do for Wesley's education. He's one, but it's definitely on our minds.
Speaker 1:Especially with the way the world is headed, homeschooling is changing a lot. What do you wish people knew about? I mean you could really take this whatever direction you feel most passionate about or have answers for. But what do you wish people knew about? I mean you could really take this whatever direction you feel most passionate about or have answers for. But what do you wish people knew about homeschooling in this season for you guys as a family? So a few things.
Speaker 2:You said season and that is so key. It's not. I wish when I first started, because I put so much pressure on myself, I felt like I was deciding something that would that was one decision for the rest of their lives, and that's not true. It's a year by year decision. Like you choose it for your season, you know, and you make it for what it is for that season.
Speaker 2:It's not like okay, my child is five, I'm going to have to homeschool them until they're 18 years old. It doesn't have to be that way, you know it's. It's whatever you want it to be and I really believe that every parent like it is ingrained in us to be our children's teacher, whether not every bit. Of course, homeschooling is not for everybody, but if you choose for it to be, you're definitely capable. And, like I said, we put pressure on ourselves more than anybody else. And just the other day my oldest um, she's 14 now. She was like mom, why does everybody say that homeschool kids are so weird? I was like I don't know. It's a funny reputation, but it's not isolating, it's a lot of fun. Um, I mean, like truly, the sky's the limit. You can figure out what your kids are passionate about and really run that direction. You know, and that's what I think is so freeing about it is it's it's different for everybody and that's why it's so beautiful.
Speaker 1:Wow, yeah, you know, I've seen.
Speaker 1:So again, wesley's one.
Speaker 1:I don't have personal experience in the homeschool world but when we lived in Thailand, there were a lot of like international parents that were choosing to homeschool their kids and there were there was a co-op there and I had thought that that model of like homeschool families and co-ops was unique to that because we were abroad and then I moved back here and there was a co-op and we know people out and it's been so beautiful for me because I totally grew up I mean I know a lot of us are guilty of it like homeschool kind of crunchy, kind of weird, right, yeah, it's not that.
Speaker 1:That's not what I saw firsthand, that wasn't my experience with my community. And actually, talking about community, the community that it became that I saw is so rich. I mean these families show up for each other and I don't know, you know talk about intentionality. It's actually this is making me think we need to have more conversations about it on the show, because it is a really unique form of community that's centered around education and I mean what a beautiful thing to model to our kids, right, absolutely.
Speaker 2:Yes, yeah, and I mean there's definitely hard days with it, but if it gets hard, you just go okay, we're done for today and then you restart tomorrow. You know, like it doesn't have to look any one way. It looks like whatever you want it to look like. And I mean you totally hit on the key of community. It's. It is so community based and that's part of the beauty of it. So, and we are in a co-op as well and, yeah, it's just, it's something that works really well for us.
Speaker 2:A lot of people think we're crazy because you know, we do have our business and do that full-time as well, but because the kids have like grown up in both, alongside each other, it's really just our way of life. And I mean personally, like I also grew up I'm an only child and I grew up with my parents working for their own business and we traveled a lot for their business and I got to see firsthand what it was like and I think I'm a product of that, you know. So I think it's great. I think our kids will have a really good work ethic when they get older and it's fun. Yeah, it's not easy but it's fun.
Speaker 1:We're a generation that's kind of like it's a new wave of like small businesses and remote workers and freelancers and I think our our this time in like society and history is a little bit clumsy figuring out how all those pieces fit together and I think so many people that have a business maybe crave the homeschooling model and they're like how?
Speaker 1:does it work, and so it might be a little bit hard, like you were saying, some days are a little bit clumsy, but what a I don't know. I think that there's so much fullness there of modeling to your kids. Wow, here's the balance of pursuing passion and pursuing family and business. It's, it's very, very sweet, very sweet. So who knows what the future has for Mr Wesley James?
Speaker 2:I'll have to put me in post in four years. I will.
Speaker 1:I will, oh goodness gracious. Well, everyone's always asking. It's like always the question is another one coming? Is another one coming? I'm like Katie needs a few months of sleep before I think about another one. Maybe some siblings in the future. Okay, so as a kid I don't think I've ever posted pictures of my grandpa, but my Nana. He was a very big build Italian guy that a lot of people assumed was a part of the mafia, and the only reason I give that many descriptors is that you have some kind of visual in your mind and I loved coloring into my early teenage years. Well, I've colored my whole life, but this was before the days of adult coloring books, and my Italian grandpa would sit and color with me. Like every time I took one out he would sit down and it was the funniest contrast of worlds, because he would have like an Elmo coloring page and this like mafia Italian guy.
Speaker 1:And so as a little kid he always called me Catalina, and that's not my name but my Katie. Obviously he said, catalina, this is how you do it, this is how you do it. And he wouldn't let me color any other way and we had to outline every shape and then shade in the inside. And I always rolled my eyes because he had like perfectionistic tendencies and I was like, oh, you're such a perfectionist. But we won a lot of contests. We did. We actually entered coloring contests.
Speaker 1:I love that, yeah, everyone. It set a really like bad precedent for me, but everyone we entered we won. So, um, I know, but anyways, it was a way that we that it brought us together. It was actually a really sweet part of our relationship. And so, as we talk about creative crayons, let's talk about what you guys offer first, actually. So can you fill listeners in that maybe don't know about you? I learned about you through ads on our. You're probably on both Instagram or Facebook. I don't remember which one.
Speaker 1:So I'm sure people are familiar with you, but I guess fill them in on what it looks like today, like what you offer.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so we design coloring tablecloths. I mean we have over like 300 designs available, but we design custom themes as well. So, like for every holiday or birthday celebration. So like for every holiday or birthday celebration, like Wesley's first birthday, I mean everyday board investors. So we have like a subscription where you just get a different theme that's relevant to the month that you're in, but you know, for, like, the Thanksgiving dinner table if you want a coloring tablecloth for the family to enjoy or you name it. I mean we've even it's been. It's so funny to me when you're speaking about your grandpa it's true about adults coloring, because we have been getting milestone birthdays for like 60th, 90th, we even did a hundredth birthday party recently and it's been so sweet because people will say, like one of them, their grandfather was a milk farmer and so we got to design this coloring tablecloth all around his milk farm and cows and then put his name in the middle and everyone got to color that as part of his celebration. So it's been really fun to see, like how it's evolved.
Speaker 1:Oh, my goodness, I love it. And I mean, if you are a parent, that is like starting a pin board for your kid's birthday party these the coloring wall idea comes up and I, I love it, I love it. And I love it for a few reasons. I want to talk about why it's like such a great thing to consider for a party.
Speaker 1:So when I was thinking of Wesley's party and what I wanted to offer, I so we don't have a lot of space to work with, like like our house is very small, our yard is a nice size but not huge, and we're going to have a lot of kids, and I loved the idea that it kind of was like a um, like central point for kids to be and it would keep them busy in one spot for a while, which I really enjoyed. I like that. It's big enough that a bunch of kids can be working on it or adults at the same time, and it's so little. It required so little setup, so little supplies to go with it, and so it's kind of like the initial cost of the sheet that is that what you guys refer to it as a sheet.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah. And then you know just whatever. Coloring utensil, whatever Not utensils, yeah Workers crayons, whatever.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:And it's so simple, but it's so, it's so unique and like, yeah, I, I everything about it. I can't rave about it enough and I'll attach, I'll attach your, I'll attach pictures of Wesley's party once it happens.
Speaker 1:Like a direction people can see if you don't have a reference. But Colby and I the other day were saying like oh, my goodness, we have to start kind of like toning back on all the things I'm buying for the party, because you can really go crazy. And I really wanted a welcome sign that kind of like matched our invitation, like welcome to Wesley's party. And he was like you know what, kate? You have the coloring wall and it's Wesley's first birthday. What a what. You know, what a wonderful. What did we say? What?
Speaker 1:a wonderful world. What a wonderful world. Yes, and he was like Kate. You have that. That's like a big statement piece for the event and I was like you know what You're right it is and it serves so many purposes, which is really really sweet.
Speaker 2:So save it too, like you can save it as a memento from his first birthday. You know how sweet, oh, my goodness I love it.
Speaker 1:Let's kind of recap that, and I didn't even like planned to gush on it this much, but I really want people to know. So I mean it could be the welcome sign, it could be the kids activity, it could be like a almost like a guest book for the event.
Speaker 2:Absolutely, we had. We've had some people ask us to do it a little bit smaller so that they could frame it for you know, color it and then people would sign their names on it. And then, when people send us the pictures of it in the frame on the wall, it is the sweetest thing just to think like, wow, we created something that's like a part of their memory forever, you know, um, and then some people just use it. As simple as I want an easy, mess free cleanup and I can have this as the base of the table and just like wad it up and toss it at the end. So there's there's both ends of like I want to save this forever and like, okay, the party's done, let's just toss it and have a clean table again.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:I could. I could for sure see both yeah, and then I love okay. So I'm someone that wants to know the full picture, the full experience, and so when I first reached out to Creative Crayons and we decided to do this together, you guys asked me like the theme and did I send you the invitation? I don't remember, or did we just talk?
Speaker 2:I remember you said this, the theme specifically, and I know that it was like travel and planes, yeah, and you wanted more clouds in it. I remember all of that, but I don't know if I saw the. I can't remember if I saw the invitation or not.
Speaker 1:The only reason I'm asking is because you captured all of the elements very quickly and so, either way, it starts off with a little questionnaire of like what's important for the event and any kind of text that you're looking for, and then, when it's shipped, you guys send a proof.
Speaker 2:Yes, we do.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and then so at that point, if you're ordering one from them, you can make any alterations or changes. And then it arrived to me in a nice what's that called A shipping tube.
Speaker 2:Yeah, a shipping tube nice, what's that called?
Speaker 1:Yeah, Shipping tube. And so it arrives in a shipping tube and it's just like ready to go, and so I would imagine most people put it right on a wall. Would you say that's the norm?
Speaker 2:Yes, that is the most popular way to do it, and I've seen people build walls for it, and then I've seen people if you have a large wall space, a lot of people will do like a balloon garland as kind of like a frame or an accent around it, and that's really fun too. So, but when it's vertical versus on the table, it draws more people in, I think, because it's like Ooh, what's that, you know? And then they pick up a crayon or a marker and like 20 minutes later they're still standing there.
Speaker 1:I love it. So we don't have a very obvious wall to use for it, and so Colby's actually building one. He just got home a few minutes ago, okay, so just to paint this picture yes, a few minutes ago, and the party is in two days but with the piece of plywood he was like just trust the process, kate, just trust the process. But yes, the plywood's in the car and he's making making a wall for it. So I'll show everyone how that comes together too. Yeah, it's where I'm really excited about it. If it's a sunny day, we own one of those small pop up tents, and so we're going to put a tent up the coloring wall under it.
Speaker 1:I have this cute little table for all the crayons. Um, because I love detail, I have all the crayons set up in different colors so the kids can easily pick, and I'm really excited to see it in action. So, um, all of this can be found on your website. Yeah, absolutely, it's all there, Okay, I love it one more time, Cause I think it cut out when I was talking.
Speaker 2:Well it's so long because our kids named our business, but it's creative crayons workshopcom.
Speaker 1:I love it. We're gather intentional living, so okay, so, okay. So let's talk about, like some of our other favorite ideas. So we're both moms, different stages. You have a 14 year old, you said, right, okay, so you have a big age span. You've kind of been in the game a while. I'm new to the game. But activities for kids doesn't have to come oh, my lighting's doing something funky, but we're going to go with it. Doesn't have to come with a huge budget, and there are so many ways that, as an everyday host, you can provide an intentional option for kids. And let's see if I can do this. It's like a disco over here, okay.
Speaker 1:So, it doesn't have to come with a huge budget, it doesn't have to be messy, it doesn't have to be hard All of the things that I hear the everyday hosts talk about. And so, as a mom that's, either talk to me about things that you've either done at your own events or that you've seen done well at other events that were good activities for kids.
Speaker 2:Yeah. So I always leaned into creativity because it just I think it sparks longer interest when it has a creative element to it. So any kind of Play-Doh is always a win If you have like cookie cutters to pair with it, or you can even do your the colors to match your party theme. If it's for a birthday party, that's fun. And then decorating things, so like decorating cupcakes or decorating cookies, or I've seen people decorate birthday hats, like anything where you can kind of have like a tray out and have an assortment of things that you're going to decorate with. You know whether it's edible or not, and I would definitely make sure they know if it's edible or not.
Speaker 2:And then, yeah, I guess, depending on the age you know whether or not they need help, but something that they can decorate and then take with them or use at the party, because it just makes that extra impression, I think you know, for the event. So that's my go-to for sure.
Speaker 1:I love it.
Speaker 1:So I'm oh my gosh, my, my followers are probably like here she goes again.
Speaker 1:I always say I'm going to bring you behind the scenes, and then real life happens and I didn't capture anything and I'm like, well, sorry, I tried, um, one day I'll have a content creator, you know, on staff, but um, so I again, my priority for this event was to have all the people there that we want to have there, and the list ended up being really big, and so I was like you know what? That's fine, that just means I'm going to have to cut corners and other ways to make this possible, and so it was really important to me to have some kind of game that everyone can participate in, that our uncle, so it's a kind of like Jack and Jill style. So we're going to have uncles and grandpas there, but we're also going to have little kids, and so the theme of the party is time flies, and I'll talk more about this, I think in another episode too but vintage airplanes, hot air balloons, and so we're doing a paper airplane relay, and so I'll explain the rules.
Speaker 1:This hasn't happened yet, so I think it's going to go well. But TBD, all this required is some rope, or, if you have that like washable spray paint, you could do that too for it to create the lanes, and then literally printer paper and so so what we're doing is we're having like 75 people it's a lot of people.
Speaker 2:Oh, wow, there's going to be airplanes everywhere.
Speaker 1:There's going to be airplanes everywhere, yeah, so between adults and kids, that's about how many, and there's babies in there. But still I'm creating like five or six rows and there's going to be four people assigned to each one and everyone's going to make their own paper airplane. And all I did was have I really wanted people to be able to decorate it, but we're just doing markers so they could write their names. And then the way that it works is you have to. So the rules of the relay is you have to throw your paper airplane. You have to get it all the way to the other side, but if it crosses over other lanes, you have to start over. And so you have to be confident, but not too confident, cause if you've ever thrown an airplane really confidently, it starts to spiral Right, and so you have to kind of gauge your strength and if it crosses over, you start over. But once you get to the other side, that person will do the same, and you definitely could cut it at two people per lane, but because we have so many people, we're gonna do four.
Speaker 1:Um, and I did again. I feel like someone's gonna like cancel me for this. I used timu a little bit for the party. I know it's controversial but it made it work. So they offered this makes me sound really terrible, but they offered pre-made paper airplanes and it was so cheap and I figured for the little kids that don't know how to fold it, I don't know how to fold one, I I had some.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it sounds so silly and it cuts down on the time you know of, like Totally yeah, that's smart.
Speaker 1:Totally, Totally, and so, yeah, that's what we're doing and so, literally, if it cost me $10 total between paper you know, the paper for the relay and then I'm borrowing rope from grandma and grandpa and it was an activity that's going to pull together everybody and really inexpensive. So there's a lot of things like that that you could do for family and kid fun. That doesn't have to be crazy.
Speaker 2:I bet most of your guests have not thrown an airplane a paper airplane in a really long time, so it's going to be something that will be fun and they'll remember.
Speaker 1:I think that too, and a few of the older guys in our life, like uncles and grandpas, heard about it and they were like, oh, I'm bringing weights. I'm bringing like those little paper weights to like cheat, and I'm like, listen, if that's what helps you buy in, you go for it. So it'll be really sweet yeah.
Speaker 2:I think.
Speaker 1:I think what I want to do, just like through this conversation, is inspire people that it's so tempting, the more time you spend on social media to feel like, hmm, what way do I want to go with this? Like it either has to be like huge or not happen at all, or it has to be very expensive or like an elaborate, or you're a bad host. Right, we fall into these belief systems with hospitality, but you could really have some intentional, wholesome fun and not break the bank, you know, absolutely yeah. So I love all of these ideas so good. Oh my gosh, I was such a sucker for cookie decorating as a kid too, that's always that's always great.
Speaker 1:Yeah, if I didn't have do is if you are listening to this episode, um, we post about all of our episodes on our Instagram at gather intentional living. Um, head on over there and comment. Chime in on your favorite activities for kids and family fun as well. Okay, so I actually asked you to chime in and to give a topic of conversation that you wanted to talk about, and you said that you wanted to talk about connection, and connection is huge, a huge part of our heartbeat over here, and so you can. Either you can ask me questions, you could take the mic and run with it, you can whatever direction you want to go, but let's chat connection, yeah.
Speaker 2:So what you were just talking about with social media, it can be such a threat to the real purpose of having anyone over having a celebration, because really, the reason you have people over and to gather is to connect with people, right?
Speaker 2:So, um, and like, with hospitality, the root of hospitality is caring for people.
Speaker 2:So, um, I think it's really important not to lose sight that, like, it doesn't have to be Pinterest perfect, like you just need to, like you said, be intentional with whatever it is, and that's what has been so interesting.
Speaker 2:When I started this whole journey with coloring, I did not know that I would have so many people write back to me after they received something for us, telling us about the adults that they connected with over their child's birthday party coloring at the table. Or, like I've had people say that somebody had, um, like a child, had a lot of anxiety when they entered the party, but they were able to come over to the table and color and connect with some of the other quieter kids, you know, so, um, yeah, I just, I don't know, wouldn't you say the same with, same with with all of whether it's like a small dinner party or, you know, a first birthday party? I yes, beautiful parties are amazing and is so fun to plan and have all the details come together. But you could have a really beautiful party and invite somebody that didn't talk to anybody and felt unseen and they would leave saying that was a really bad party. Probably you know what I mean.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I, I totally track with what you're saying. I think that it's like the intention behind everything. People pick up on the intention. If the intention is, if the intention is belonging, if the intention is connection, people pick up on that. If the intention is belonging, if the intention is connection, people pick up on that. If the intention is perfection and for, like I don't know, I don't know, to make yourself look good as a host, you know, like for pats on the back, people are really going to get it.
Speaker 1:And I think that there is a balance. And I try to communicate this to people. Like, if you see a beautiful charcuterie board on my page, it's not because I'm saying that is like the only way to gather. I love detail, I'm. I know that not everyone does, but even for Wesley's party I was like okay, I know for myself, there has to be a line that I cut myself off at, or else what I was risking for me is I was going to become such a frazzled basket case that that would interfere with connection, and so I knew that I had to draw a line. And then, even with the activities, I didn't want something that was going to be so cumbersome or so whatever that it would be a turnoff for people. I loved that. The color again, I picked things very intentionally. The coloring board, I knew would bring people together. The airplane relay brings people together and so this is a really good challenge and invitation to people.
Speaker 1:As you are picking the activities in the event, the activities, yeah, just activities at your event, think of things that really that really bring people together. What is the goal of the event? Is it connection? Then pick, you know, pick things that that foster that. That's really sweet.
Speaker 1:And you know I this was like a recent realization for me. As I was just going nuts, I actually chose not to serve cake at the event. And this is silly. Everyone expects that if there's an event, I'm making the cake, because I do like to make very elaborate cakes and this was a hard decision for me but I was like no, I'm not, I'm not making a cake for the whole party because I know that I'm going to be so frazzled, it's going to interfere with my experience for the day, and so, if you are listening today, there is a permission for you to. I had another guest this week. She talks about gentle hospitality, but to approach it gently for the sake of connection, you don't have to stress yourself out, for that's not the goal. It's good, it's really good when you talk about cake just really quick.
Speaker 2:After a few birthday parties. I do everything finger food now because like there's lots of you know, like no forks, no knives, just here's a small little beverage napkin and or a small little dessert plate and you just pile on your finger foods.
Speaker 1:It is so much stress. Yes, I think it's so hard. Social media is such a great source of inspiration and I love learning, I love creativity, I love being inspired, but it also sets these very bizarre inspired, but it also sets these very bizarre expectations that are not real. And so I would just encourage listeners, the everyday host, to just be aware of your limits, be aware of the point where you're like oh wow, I start to feel stress here and be aware of that line and learn how to respect it and kind of work in the parameters of peace, because gathering is as much for you as it is for your guests.
Speaker 2:Absolutely.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and if you're frazzled, connection's not going to happen. Yep, that's really good. Well, I asked this question to another guest this week and I'm curious what your answer is, because, as a fellow entrepreneur and dreamer, I'm sure you have something in your mind, in your heart. If you could look ahead to the next season for you, for the business, what would it hold, what would it look like?
Speaker 2:Oh goodness, yes, I'm definitely a dreamer Um we actually that's an interesting question in your timing, because we had a whole new line um recently that I released and was excited about and was super well received and in the shipment. So it was the first time we hadn't actually produced the whole thing ourselves. We designed it and then we had it manufactured in China and, long story short, when the shipment came over it was completely confiscated and we lost everything and it was a huge mess and downfall. Like I was just the emotions behind it. So I've had to only recently so that was a few months ago and I've had to just let myself start dreaming again Um, because it felt like I mean, truly, it was the next thing and it was so exciting, and then to have the rug kind of like pulled out from under your feet, I was like, oh, that does not feel nice, you know.
Speaker 2:So I'm not, I'm not sure what I want it to look like. I know that I want to keep growing. I know that I want to um, I never want to appear bigger than we actually are. I want people to always know that and I really have a lot of um pride in the fact that, like we are a small family business. You know, I connect with my customers and I want to know them and I want to hear from them and I want that to be something that carries on and I'm like, yes, growing but staying connected at the same time. So just trying to like figure out the balance of those two, because it seems kind of opposite you know, like if you get so big, it's like you forget where you of opposite, you know.
Speaker 2:Like if you get so big, it's like you forget where you came from. You know, and I never want that to happen. So so, yeah, just continuing to grow, um, in a safe, in a safe way, I guess.
Speaker 1:Yeah, goodness, it's so hard. I'm so sorry that happened. We've had a few pretty public, pretty significant disappointments over the years in business and it's, of course, hard to be the one that's journeying through it. It's hard to know how to communicate that and what to communicate to the audience that's invested in your process, and so it's hard. I mean, it never helps to hear like, oh, everyone goes through it. I kind of like hate encouragement like that, like you're not a, not a failure, but it doesn't make it easier. Um, so I'm, I'm just really sorry that that happened and it's part of it, right.
Speaker 2:Like at some point or another, we all have to go through something that we really don't want to. So that we can I mean even just sharing it. You know like I've been able to share my experience with other entrepreneurs that have been through similar situations and or how to navigate different things, and I find that valuable, you know so.
Speaker 1:It is, it is Well. We are excited to be a part of your next steps and your growth and supporting your business and I hope that everyone end all of our questions, all of our conversations, with the same three questions. I'm actually very proud of myself. I've used a lot of words this week in this batch report and I'm not struggling as much as I thought I would.
Speaker 1:So we end all of our conversations with the same three questions, and I would love to hear yours as well, your answers to them as well. What is something you have eaten recently and loved?
Speaker 2:Okay, so I went on a date with my husband at a little restaurant in our town and I had the most amazing beef carpaccio. It was so good it was. Have you ever had beef carpaccio? So it's it's rare, very thinly sliced beef and it it's like a small plate and it was served on these little bits of like toasted baguette and it had this horseradish truffle sauce on top. Do you like truffle?
Speaker 1:I have not experienced it much, so I'm not sure.
Speaker 2:Well, people usually either love it or hate it, because it's a very strong well, it smells very strong, but it also has a very strong flavor. But it's really really good with beef. So and I'm not even a beef person I don't need a ton of meat, but this was like. It was like melt in your mouth. It was so good.
Speaker 1:What cuisine? Like what background? Is it French?
Speaker 2:Beef carpaccio and its roots might be. Yes, the restaurant wasn't, it was kind of just like a little wine and tapas bar. But yeah, carpaccio probably is French.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, I don't even know. I'm sure someone listening is like saying it right now, like what it is. Let us know. Let us know. Um, that sounds great. That's really nice. I would enjoy that. I love food. Um, okay, a gathering you attended that made you feel a strong sense of belonging, and if you could pinpoint it, what it was that made you feel that way?
Speaker 2:So, um, this past May, I was in New Haven, connecticut, and I was at a business event for the week and it was the connection that made it so special. Um, I only knew one, maybe two ish people that were there out of like 80, and we spent every day together. But, um, I would start conversations with people and realize I was in such good company because these were people that were actually experiencing a lot of the same things that I was, and sometimes entrepreneurship can feel very lonely. So, yeah, just to have ears and understanding and conversation all around, like with people that were like, yeah, I get it, like I've, I've done that or I'm doing it right now, um, really made all the difference. So it was, it was amazing. Plus, new Haven was I just loved it, but in the spring it was really beautiful, but, yeah, that was it.
Speaker 1:Really sweet, really really sweet. And, last but not least, something you've discovered recently that you think everyone should know about a Netflix show Amazon purchase anything like that, all right.
Speaker 2:So I am a cozy girl, like when the day is done I just kind of want to curl up in bed and watch a show and just kind of wind down. And I discovered the best blanket ever. It is like I'm do you ever try blankets? And you're like so excited and you order it and it's like I thought this was going to be softer than it was. But this is. It was a faux rabbit fur blanket and I got it from a website called Everyday Cozy Living. It is the softest, like everybody. I'm like no, this is mom's blanket, do not touch my blanket.
Speaker 2:Everybody wants it. It's so soft so I'm like, okay, this is the blanket for the rest of my life.
Speaker 1:That's so funny, I will definitely include that in the show notes for people, because that's one of those things that, yeah, when you get a recommendation, it's like okay, I trust you, that's good.
Speaker 1:Well, thank you so much. This was so good. Like I said, I am literally turning this episode off and running in the car to pick up a popcorn machine that we're borrowing for the party. So it is party zone over here. So thank you much. Thank you much. Thank you so much for being a part of Wesley's day. It means so much to us. We're excited to share it with our followers and support you, support you through all of our gatherings. Thanks from the making room community Okay, well, thank you so much, guys. Where is my mouse to turn this off? Goodness? Okay, thank you so much, guys. Where is my mouse to turn this off? Goodness? Okay, thank you so much, guys. We will see you next week.