Remember how you felt when preparing for the arrival of your first child? Eager. Terrified. Excited. Overwhelmed. Focused. Perhaps, downright obsessed. Well, that's how I've been feeling ever since starting on this adventure. It turns out birthing a bookstore is much like having a baby minus the trip to the hospital. So many things to consider. Finances. Inventory - books and sidelines. Space. Lease agreement. Publishers. Store layout. Business plan. Interior decorating. Ligh

Having a dream is one thing. Working toward it is another. Standing tall and saying, "This is my dream" is something different all together. People see and hear your idea. They commit it to memory. They remind you of it even if you're so over it. And, that's a good thing because it will get you to your goal. As an introvert embarking on this journey, I've done a pretty good job reaching out to people that I hope to work with down the road. Yay, me! Next up, going farther "out

My mind has been spinning since I first walked through the Lee Mansion. How many books will fit in the space? Where will I put them all? Bookshelves, sure, but how many? Where am I going to find funky, vintage furniture? Sure, I found some keepers at The Stable early on but I've been on a mission ever sense. It's easy to get sucked into estate and garage sales (and online shopping). Believe me, I know. But sometimes you find goodies that you must have. Like this colorful shel

There comes a point when a dream can become more. But, that requires faith and action. This the point when you have to put on your big girl panties and step into your future. I suppose I should be nervous or scared or worried. I'm not though. I feel at ease because I feel it is meant to be. Hokey? Yes. A bit naive, perhaps. But confident this bookstore endeavor will come together in an amazing way. It already is. Along with my vision and belief in my purpose, I am blessed to

What's "it" you ask? Just about everything when creating something out of nothing. In this case, I'm referring to what this bookstore is going to be called. A business' name is, or at least can be, so powerful. It communicates your vision before people see the space. It must stand the test of time. It needs to draw people in (literally and figuratively). And, as a entrepreneur, you need to LOVE it. I knew I wanted a unique name because of the historic space. But, having a nam

There's no better way to prepare you for what you need to do than just pushing up your sleeves and stepping into the task. Even sweeping up debris can provide insight into how something works, what something or someone needs, and even who you are. I was fortunate enough to have my daughter and some of our friends join me to volunteer at The Charles Lee Mansion and push dirt we did. It was great to be able to show them the space I've been talking about for months and hear some

So how do I transform this space from dark, desolate, and dilapidated basement into a fun, welcoming, and eclectic space? Good question. Thank God for Pinterest! Creative and resourceful friends. Plus investigating funky, vintage spaces, or antique fairs. Here are some inspirational finds. Sure, these aren't book displays but the arrangements and items are undoubtably cool. I'd love to sell unique items like these along with books. A few days ago, I was in Cleveland. I went

They can be so tiny. The smallest seed in the world comes from an orchid - the Gomesa crispa - in the tropical rain forest. These seeds are only 1/300th of an inch (85 micrometers) long, which is below the resolving power of the unaided human eye. But within this microscopic spec lies beauty and, oh, so much burgeoning potential. It's the same with us only magnified a thousand fold or more. One kind word. One small step. One decadent donut. One invigorating run. One change in

There's no doubt I have my work cut out for me. Going from a reader, book lover/podcast listener, book club initiator to bookstore owner, that's a huge shift. I haven't been shy about asking for help though. And, fortunately, kind, knowledgeable people - folks at Literati and Crazy Wisdom Bookstore & Tea Room in Ann Arbor and Books & Mortar in Grand Rapids - have been amazingly helpful. Plus, there's a handbook for opening a bookstore! This is now part of my weekly (should be

Sometimes moving forward means going backward. These steps in reverse aren't always a bad thing but are often necessary to get your footing and perspective. Sometimes the Universe clears the way to opportunities if you're open to them and paying attention. I've been working on being open to the signs provided. And, things have been happening. I'm grateful that these steps backward recently have been to days of time gone by and a space that has been crying for salvation. The C

My heart fell and so did the space. To the basement. While it's not the same as putting Baby in the corner like in Dirty Dancing, it felt like it. I was deflated. I loved the two rooms on main floor at the Charles Lee Mansion. But, plans change. The developer and project manager determined it would be best to use that space for pop-up businesses and events. The dark, ominous cement/stone encased area was now available because the business that was going to occupy it determine

Real estate agents say, "location, location, location" is of utmost importance for successful business properties. While I know that is true, there were other factors at play in this decision - curiosity about historic preservation and what the Charles Lee Mansion once was and could be. Being a part of one of Saginaw's most historic renewal endeavors spoke to my belief in the power and beauty of transformation both for the structure and for myself. That didn't mean I stuck my

I love snow but I'm not nor ever have been a skier. During a lunch break, I decided to check out the going-out-of-business sale at The Stable Outdoor Outfitters. In addition to ski boots and skiing paraphernalia, I found furniture and fixtures for sale. I wandered around. After ascending the stairs like a mountain climber (well, almost), I found some treasures for the bookstore upstairs. The shining gem (left and middle photos) gleamed in the afternoon sunlight that illuminat

After realizing what I was called to do, I began to investigate. With excitement growing, my mind raced. So many possibilities. The time was now. But, how? And, where? The answer arrived in the form of a tagged Facebook post. The Charles Lee Mansion in downtown Saginaw needed lighting fixtures. After decades of heartache and degradation, the Lee Mansion was finally on the road to recovery and its former greatness. It had found new purpose with youthful passion for historic pr

How my world shifted with a tarot reading, jolt of java, a famous quote, and an adventurer's nudge. This has been brewing for a long time. The years of discontent. The slow-growing seeds. The safe, warm cocoon. The illusive dream. And, finally, the relief of tapping into my divine direction and finding my unfulfilled purpose. Urban Inspiration During a visit to bustling Ann Arbor, Michigan and The Crazy Wisdom Bookstore, I heard a whisper. It wasn't a person. It was my intuit