10/19/2026
I've been struggling to find the right words for this, but here goes...
I wear a lot of hats.
I'm the owner and rhinestone designer since 2008 behind A Lil Bling, which grew to include custom tumblers and decorative lids in 2020.
I'm the practitioner behind Legacy of Light offering Reiki, Vibrational Sound Healing, Chromotherapy, Aromatherapy, guided meditation, and now intuitive tarot and oracle readings at The Silver Cauldron.
Soon, I'll also be resuming my annual role as the baker behind My Nana's Cookies, sharing our family's Italian Christmas cookie traditions.
And beyond all of that, I'm a wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, aunt, and friend.
And truthfully... I'm exhausted.
I don't think people always realize what it takes to run a small business, let alone three. For the most part, I'm the driving force behind it all. The creating, marketing, planning, making, scheduling, and endless behind-the-scenes work. I don't clock out. My days start when I wake up and often don't end until I fall asleep. Even then, my mind is still working. With some health challenges lately, I've found myself wondering if I'm doing too much. I've seriously considered letting one of my businesses go so I could give more of myself to the others.
But this weekend reminded me of something I really needed to remember. Seeing my repeat customers at 90s Con, hearing how much they love their cups, and catching up with people who return year after year reminded me that what I do matters. And it made me think about my bling customers, my Legacy of Light clients, and the families who will enjoy our Italian Christmas cookies. Each business is a different piece of my heart. Each allows me to create, connect, and hopefully bring a little joy, comfort, or sparkle into someone's life.
And I realized... I can't imagine giving any of them up. ❤️
Do I know how I'm going to find more hours in the day? Absolutely not.
Am I still overwhelmed sometimes? You bet.
But I love what I do, and I'm proud of what I've built.
So I'm asking for a little patience and understanding as I try to balance it all.
And please remember that being self-employed doesn't mean I'm not working. These businesses aren't hobbies. They're real jobs, with real responsibilities, long hours, and a whole lot of heart behind them. Sometimes I may be slow to respond. Sometimes I may need to say no or take a little time for myself. I'm learning that I can't be everything to everyone without taking care of me, too. I'm not sharing this for sympathy. Just a little understanding of the person behind the businesses.
To everyone who has purchased something, booked a session, shared a post, recommended me, or simply cheered me on... THANK YOU. You have no idea how much your support means.
The biggest thank you to my phenomenal husband Michael because without his support and help at these events I couldn't physically do this. Thank you to my family and friends for your support and for helping when I'm in an overwhelmed crisis.
I may wear a lot of hats, but there's only one me underneath them all. And while I'm still figuring out how to balance everything, I'm not ready to give up on any of the things that make me who I am.
And if youve read this far... From the bottom of my heart... Thank you!!!! ❤️✨
