Posted in celebration of my daughter's upcoming 3rd birthday and welcoming my newest little one

Hey there!

I'm sitting here writing my very first blog post with my little guy snoozing on me while my toddler is at preschool (can we talk about the actual magic of baby-wearing for a hot minute? Two free hands = literally everything).

This season of life has me reflecting, so here's how Little Orange Studio became my full-time thing.

The plot twist

Picture this: February 2024.

After 10 years climbing the corporate design ladder, I was living what looked like college-me's dream. Fresh off maternity leave with a shiny new promotion, I loved my boss, the team, and I was leading design on one of the biggest projects of my career at a Fortune 500 company.

I had worked so hard to get there. It felt like I'd made it.

Fast-forward: I'd been back for a full year, my daughter was 15 months old, and I was running on literal fumes.

Those 50+ hour weeks on zero sleep (anyone else?), the guilt of pouring everything into a job that was draining me instead of into my family, the endless daycare sick cycle (if you know, you KNOW).

This wasn't even close to my definition of "living the dream."

*Speaking of college Mel. IG post circa 2015–entering in the real [design] world. So stoked and caffeinated.*

The lightbulb moment

Something big had been missing from my life.

Or should I say... something Little? 😉 (see what I did there?)

For the first time in years, freelancing had taken a complete backseat. That first year of parenthood left zero space for anything "extra," and it had been the longest break from Little Orange Studio ever. That spark was missing, and I could feel it.

But I couldn't squeeze more in.

So naturally, what did I do? I took on a freelance project. Smart, right? (Shoutout Channel Marker!)

I know, I know—it was everything I didn't have time for and everything I desperately needed.

Something just clicked back into place. For the first time since becoming a mom, I didn't feel guilty while working—I actually felt energized. Like myself again.

The thought of leaving that hard-earned salary and benefits to work for myself, though? Terrifying doesn't even cover it.

But here's what really got me: The client I was working with had hired me to help him take his own scary leap. And looking back at every freelance client I'd worked with... they had all done the scary thing. They had all chosen to bet on themselves and their vision.

It was staring me in the face the whole time: I loved working with these people who light up when they talk about what they do. Like Stace at Rutabaga, who's all about making healthy food accessible to her community—and making it taste incredible while she's at it. Those deep-dive conversations about what really matters to them? That's my favorite part.

And I realized I wanted to go for it too.

Fast forward to now

Here I am, writing to you from my little studio—natural light streaming in, creative chaos scattered everywhere—doing full-time what I used to squeeze in on nights and weekends.

Working alongside people who are building businesses they're passionate about. Helping them with branding and web design that attracts their ideal people and actually helps their business grow.

This? This is actually my definition of living the dream.

Don't get me wrong—the juggle is still incredibly real with work and kids. But it's entirely different working for myself. When you love what you do, it energizes you instead of draining you. And if I can help other business owners feel that same way about their work so their businesses can grow alongside their lives? Honestly, I can't think of a better job. Every day feels a little surreal.

I've blocked off Fridays to spend with my little best friend, and now I have a sweet baby boy adding even more joy (and midnight snuggles) to the mix.

There are so many ways to define success, taking walks away from screens for inspiration, grilled cheese dates and pre-school pickup included.

Thank you, Mackenzie, for giving me a new perspective on life, time, who I am, and what I love to do (besides being your Mom). And Miles—well, you're proof that God’s timing for it all really is perfect.

Your turn

This all has me thinking: What lights you up?

Whether you're building a business, chasing a passion project, or just trying to figure out what gets you excited—I'd love to hear about it.

When we figure out what we're really after, everything else starts making sense.

Drop me a line about your vision—I'm genuinely excited to hear what you're building! ✨

My Little Story (And Why I'm Here)

Your turn