Last week, I signed the lease and got my keys to my very first brick-and-mortar store. Just typing that feels surreal. Love Rae Grace has been a dream in my heart for a long time, long before it even had a name. I didn’t think the storefront would come so soon. Once I started finally bringing Love Rae Grace to life, the pieces began falling into place faster than I imagined.
But it hasn’t been without its challenges. It’s been long nights, early mornings, and moments where I’ve been way outside my comfort zone. And yet… it’s worth every bit of it.
When I picture this space, I see more than racks of clothing and jewelry. Love Rae Grace Boutique, the style & self-love studio, will be a place where women feel seen, welcomed, and celebrated the moment they walk in. A place where people gather not just to shop, but to connect, create, and leave feeling more like themselves than when they arrived. We’ll always have experiences here, ones that evolve and change, keeping things fresh, fun, and inspiring. I want it to be a destination you look forward to visiting, no matter what season of life you’re in.
Right now, we’re literally breaking down walls in the space, but in doing that, I’m breaking down walls within myself, too. I’m pushing harder than I ever have before, stepping into the version of me I’ve always had the potential to become. For years, I let anxiety hold me back. Now, even in a season where my anxiety is loud and postpartum life is stretching me in every direction, I’m choosing to step out anyway. To do the uncomfortable thing. To build the thing that matters to me. And to show my kids that dreams don’t just happen, you make them happen.
Recently, I attended a Women’s Retreat, and listening to the self-love coaches and speakers was like hearing the universe speak directly to me: slow down, be present, and trust the process. At one point, I found myself uncontrollably crying, the kind of tears that seem to pour out before you can even make sense of them. It was almost an out-of-body experience, like I was watching myself finally release something I didn’t even realize I’d been holding onto. It felt strange and freeing all at once, and maybe that’s a story for another day, but it reminded me that growth doesn’t always look graceful. Sometimes it’s messy, raw, and unexpected… and that’s okay.
During a book swap at the retreat, I picked up a copy of Shoveling Shit: A Love Story About the Entrepreneur’s Messy Path to Success by Cass and Mike Lazzaro. I haven’t read it yet, but something about holding it in my hands felt like a sign, a reminder that the path to building something meaningful isn’t always neat and tidy, but it is worth it.
Love Rae Grace is about style, yes, but it’s even more about heart. And I can’t wait to open these doors and invite you in, to share this space, these experiences, and this new chapter with you.
