The Common Thread Behind Everything I Do

Building Confidence: The Common Thread Behind Everything I Do

I felt like an update was warranted since I’ve been a little more MIA from the store over the past month or so. Life has been full, and I thought I’d catch y’all up on what has been going on behind the scenes.

First of all, since celebrating our 10-year store anniversary, my husband and I celebrated our 10-year wedding anniversary with the sweetest vow renewal ceremony. (Pictures are coming soon… I’m just currently drowning in my never-ending to-do list, ha!)

My brother and sister-in-law also got married in a beautiful ceremony, and we were blessed to host their reception in our barn, which meant lots of preparation and making memories along the way. On top of that, our Chloe is leaving so we have been prepping for store interviews to hire her replacement (which is going to be so hard because no one can replace Chloe… insert all the sad faces - and send me all your referrals)… and then summer basketball has officially ramped up and has been taking up a large part of my days.

So, with all of that being said, I thought I would bring this all full circle because I know there are probably people thinking:

“WHAT IN THE WORLD?! Why is she adding more to her plate when her goal for 2026 was to actually decrease her to-do list?”

And honestly… fair question. 😂

But the more I thought about it, the more I realized these things aren’t just random things added to my schedule. They all connect back to my core mission.

Building confidence.

If you’ve spent any time around me, you know there is one thing I truly believe in: confidence changes everything.

Not the loud, look-at-me kind of confidence. Not the confidence that comes from a title, position, or list of accomplishments.

I’m talking about the kind of confidence that allows someone to believe in themselves, use their voice, take chances, learn from mistakes, and step into opportunities they may not have thought were possible.

Confidence isn’t something that magically appears. It is built over time through experiences, encouragement, challenges, and having people who believe in you before you fully believe in yourself.

That belief is the reason I do practically everything — from my work life to my family life to my volunteer opportunities.

It’s a core part of my parenting.

It’s the reason I chose the careers I’ve pursued.

It’s the reason I created The Dressing Room.

It’s the reason I coach.

It’s the reason I lead my teams the way I do.

Building Confidence Through Court Time

Coaching basketball has been such a rewarding experience because it allows me to be part of an important season in a young person’s life. And, yes, I tried to take this off my plate this year, but I just love these girls and seeing them truly blossom into these bigger, better, more confident versions of themselves made me completely unable to say no to a new group of girls.

This is a crucial time for confidence development where they are discovering who they are, navigating friendships, learning how to handle challenges, and figuring out where they belong.

I have the opportunity to help shape how young people see themselves.

Sports in general teach lessons that extend far beyond the scoreboard.

A missed shot teaches resilience.

A difficult game teaches perseverance.

A mistake teaches that growth comes from trying.

A teammate needing encouragement teaches leadership.

My goal isn’t just to create better basketball players. My goal is to help build confident young women who know how to communicate, work together, handle adversity, and believe they have something valuable to contribute.

The confidence they build on the court can carry into the classroom, their friendships, their future careers, and every challenge they face in life. Clearly, I am a big pro sports/club/team person.... 

Preparing Young Women for the Future

All of this got me thinking about our interviews we will be holding soon and I am reminded, once again, of another way I fill my volunteer time with the Women in Business event each year. It’s probably one of my most favorite things I have been asked to be a part of because I have the opportunity to help high school students prepare for the workforce. 

We work on practical skills like interviewing, resume building, public speaking, communication, and professional expectations. But the biggest lesson isn’t just how to answer an interview question or create a resume.

It’s learning how to confidently tell their story.

It’s learning how to recognize their strengths.

It’s learning how to walk into a room knowing they belong there.

Watching a student go from nervous and unsure to confidently introducing themselves, sharing their ideas, and believing in their abilities is truly just so fulfilling to see.

Building Confidence Through Leadership

This same philosophy is at the heart of how I train and lead my team at The Dressing Room.

When I bring younger employees onto our team, my goal isn’t simply to teach them how to complete tasks. I want to help them become responsible, team-driven, accountable, and effective members of a workplace.

A successful team isn’t built by people who simply show up. It’s built by people who communicate, support each other, take accountability, and understand that their role matters.

Confidence grows when someone is trusted with responsibility.

Confidence grows when someone is encouraged to solve problems.

Confidence grows when someone realizes their ideas and contributions have value.

One of the greatest rewards of leadership is watching someone grow from hesitant and unsure into someone who steps up, takes ownership, and believes in themselves.

The Bigger Mission

Whether I’m standing on a basketball court, mentoring students preparing for their future job, working alongside my team in the boutique, or styling our beautiful customers in the shop, the mission remains the same:

Build confidence.

Because confidence changes everything.

It changes how we communicate.

It changes how we lead.

It changes the opportunities we pursue.

It changes how we see ourselves.

Fashion has always been my way of helping women build confidence in their closets, but it’s my experiences outside the boutique that have shown me that it’s not about the clothes on the outside, it’s what you’re building within - that’s why I always say the clothing is the accessory to your confidence!

It starts with someone believing in you.

It starts with encouragement.

It starts with an opportunity to grow.

Sometimes all someone needs is one person willing to say, “I see something in you.”

And sometimes, that one moment of belief is what helps them start believing in themselves.

So... if you see me at sporting events or job interviews when i am talking about they way we pour into customers and i am crying, it's literally because I get SOOOOO emotional when i see these kids or ladies reaching potentials they thought they couldn't and seeing that confidence spark. I can't help it. It's weird, but I do it. So, there you have it... busier than ever but with a full heart and full plate!