my story
“We always knew you were going to be your own boss from age 5, we just had no idea what that was going to look like.” -My Parents
The first job I ever wanted was princess. Not the fairytale kind, but the Kate Winslet and Meghan Markle kind. When I was little, I’d research countries with reigning monarchies and royal sons close to my age. But that dream came to an abrupt end the day I watched my first episode of Fixer Upper.
From that moment on, I was certain, I was going to be an interior designer. Joanna Gaines became my ultimate inspiration. Her authenticity, her balance of family and purpose, and her creative intuition, I wanted to live that kind of intentional, beautiful life.
Every birthday and holiday after that, I unwrapped design books, sketchpads, and graph paper. I had my sights set on Parsons School of Design in New York, with a semester in Paris. To save for that dream, I started working as a hostess for my dad in Montecito, California, not a bad gig when your regulars are Ellen, Oprah, and Katy Perry. I learned early that being a “somebody” takes a lot more than it looks like from the outside.
But as my step-grandmother used to say, “Life is what happens when you make other plans.”
High school didn’t go quite as I expected. A painful experience with friends left me questioning everything. I finished school online, worked full time, and rebuilt my confidence one small step at a time. Somewhere in that process, I realized I didn’t want to be a “somebody” in the world’s eyes, I wanted to create something that mattered.
That “something” started in an unexpected place: doing my French homework in a bar booth at the Montecito Wine Bistro (pre-opening, of course). The owner, Pierre Lafond, sat down with me and offered to help with my homework. We talked for a while and he noticed my curiosity and creativity and asked if I’d take new photos for the restaurant website. I said yes, and that single opportunity changed everything. He published my photos, asked about my artistic choices, and gave me my first real taste of creative purpose.
Before long, I was running the restaurant’s social media, blending photography, design, and storytelling. For the first time, I saw my creativity directly impact people. Guests came in asking for cocktails and dishes they’d seen online. My ideas had power, and my work had impact.
I was hooked.
That’s where it all began, my journey into visual design, branding, and creative storytelling. What started with a love for interiors evolved into a passion for building meaningful, beautiful experiences that connect people to purpose… Whether that’s through a brand, a space, or a story.
this chapter
Flash forward a few years… I’d traveled the world, freelanced my way through Kauai, Costa Rica, and Tahiti, and learned what it means to pay your dues. After Pierre passed and the restaurant closed, I joined a hospitality group that owned two boutique hotels and restaurants, one originally founded by Charlie Chaplin.
That experience opened new doors. I owe so much to the Copus family, the owners of that group. Soon after, I landed my first Marketing Director role with a cocktail catering company. Almost all of their business came through my marketing efforts, and one campaign led to their largest event ever: a three-day Indian wedding worth $35,000. Watching that success benefit a family business was the moment I knew, this is what I am meant to do.
That role also gave me the freedom to finally leave restaurant serving behind and step fully into a creative career.
Then life shifted again. Some family changes brought me to my dad’s hometown, Spokane, Washington. I fell in love, and decided that this would be my new home. I kept my clients, sent top photographers in my place, and maintained every deliverable. But something interesting happened: they didn’t just want the work, they wanted me. And I wasn’t able to be there for them anymore…
So, I joined the Spokane Club as their Business Development Manager, became known around town as “the Spokane Club girl,” and generated over $80,000 in sales. On paper, it was a success, but in my heart, I missed the creative side. I missed helping people grow.
That led to my next adventure: I was hired to build a marketing agency for real estate agents. For a year and a half, I poured my energy into growing the business, developing a course and digital products that helped agents strengthen their brands. It was an incredible learning experience, and it brought me full circle.
Now, I’m back on my own again, back to my roots.
We’re approaching 2026, and I can confidently say: I have the best clients in the world. Every brand I work with is a reflection of trust, intention, and creativity, built with the same heart that first learned to pioneer from a bar booth doing French homework with Pierre in Montecito.