Welcome to Leveling Up with Lindsay, the podcast
where we dive into leadership, small business,
and everything in between. I'm Lindsay, your
host and the proud owner of White Peony Boutique,
a space created to empower women, build confidence,
and foster meaningful connections. Whether you're
an entrepreneur, a mom, a friend, or someone
just looking for a little inspiration, This is
your space to feel seen, supported, and inspired.
Join me as we share stories, strategies, and
a little bit of life's chaos while navigating
what it truly means to level up in starting a
business, relationship, and personal growth.
So grab a cup of coffee, get comfy, and let's
level up together. Hi, friends. This is Leveling
Up with Lindsay. Today's episode is incredibly
special to me because I get to introduce you
to the woman behind so much of who I am. She's
not just my biggest supporter. She's truly the
heart of my story. She's my mom. And I can confidently
say that White Peony Boutique would not even
exist without her. From my work ethic to my creativity
to the way I connect with people, so much of
that came from watching her. hard, and lead with
love. She has this rare magic where she believes
anything is possible and somehow makes you believe
it too. So today I want to honor the woman who
helped me build the foundation I stand on. So
mama, welcome. Mama, thank you. Are you tearing
up already? Nope, not going to do it. Not crying.
Are you crying? We're going to probably. Probably.
You can tell in my voice it will go out. All
right. Well, so for the people who haven't met
you yet, how would you describe yourself? I would
say that I am the fixer and maker of the family.
I 100 % agree with that. Because if it's broken,
I'm going to fix it. I'm going to sure try. Whether
it's something physical or if you need help or
if you're just in a mood, I'm going to try to
fix it. And then it's the creativity part that
makes me the maker. The maker. And I think we
were talking about this before. With the maker
and the fixer, you're definitely one to, like
you said, go try to help someone who needs something.
You said it so well. It made me think of the
maker and about making someone's day or doing
these little thoughtful gestures. There's a lot
more to the fixer and the maker than just sewing
a button or fixing stains on a shirt. You've
always been someone who's deeply passionate,
incredibly hardworking. Where do you think that
drives from? Well, my parents were very hardworking,
but we were also very poor. So to help change
that narrative, as soon as I could work, you
know, we did. And it wasn't just one job. It
was multiple. I think in college I had seven
jobs. It was kind of silly. I was losing more
money running around than I was making, but we
peeled it back to three jobs, and then I was
good. What is something you think that people
would be surprised to know about you? Nothing.
I'm pretty open. I'm pretty much an open book.
I wear my heart on my sleeve, and my eyebrows
are pretty loud. You know, they're kind of shh.
and things around. You know I just like to do
so many different things and I like to do the
things that most people don't like to do. The
old handwork and quilting and sewing and baking
and you know I mean it's just all the things
that are a lost art I really like to try to do.
I do agree with that. I think you had said at
one point you said that I said this as a little
girl. You did. I said or the question I asked
I guess. The question you asked was mom how do
you know how to do that? And I went, I don't,
but I'm going to find out. I'm going to figure
it out. And we always did. And it wasn't always
perfect, and it was messy. We didn't always get
it done on the first shot, but we didn't give
up. And there's always a solution. And for people
to say, no, you can't, I have a problem with
that. I think no is a convenience word. Sometimes
you say no to your kids because it's convenient
for you, and it's not necessary. That was when
I was young, too. One of my mom's favorite things
was saying, well, you can't do that. I don't
have a pattern. It's like, oh, but we could make
a pattern. You definitely have instilled that
in me. I think one of the funniest things that
you always say that makes me laugh is, ooh, don't
tell my daughter no. Oh, don't say no. Because
it's not that I'm going to. If there's a will,
there's a way. And my mom has definitely instilled
that in me. I used to get into trouble because.
somebody would say no and it was like oh just
watch the challenge accepted exactly because
it's like okay well I'll just give me the opportunity
to prove you completely wrong I love it let's
take it back to like your early career life what
kind of things like tell me a little bit about
your past work because no quite a few different
places I've been connected or you've introduced
me to a few I've never been unemployed so I started
when I was babysitting at nine, corner tasseling
13, McDonald's at 15. I mean, it was just, and
then when you started adding different jobs that
we could. That had something to do like with
your life. It did. And it depended upon where
I was at and the position that I needed. It was
almost opportunistic because it was like, I worked
at a bridal shop and I was going to get married,
you know, so you, you work in that bridal industry.
And I. managed hotels and we owned businesses
and then when you were little it was too difficult
to get daycare so well I had an elementary ed
background so I started a daycare that solved
that problem and then it was you can't just have
a daycare I needed to have a curriculum for the
kiddos to make sure that they were ready for
school so just all of those things accumulated.
My mom has been known as Mama Jane since I was
little because Mama Jane's daycare was, that
wasn't the name of it, but she definitely. Nope,
it was Teddy Bear Junction. Yes, and we have
people that went to her daycare that still keep
in contact with my mom. Oh, that's so wonderful.
And all I just love those little buggers. I know,
they're all graduated and everything. They're
having babies. Oh, that's crazy. Because I remember
babysitting them. Yes. You know, on the weekends
or whatnot. And remember holding like little
Olivia. Olivia and Hannah. Yep. Yeah. That's
so crazy. And so cool. So you've obviously left
an incredibly lasting impression. Taking it back.
Was there ever a moment where you thought, yes,
this is what I'm meant to be doing or maybe the
opposite where you're like, you know, I meant
for something different. And when I think of
that with you, I think a little bit about your
last career and leading up to where you are right
now. After daycare, I worked for T -Mobile for
a long time. And then the position I was in is
I had moved from a sales to it was kind of inventory
and merchandising and that kind of thing. And
that position was. eliminated throughout the
company so I ended in a kind of a stepping stone
position with a different company different industry
and that really wasn't a good fit I mean I loved
the people it was a wonderful company but it
was a numbers person and I'm a creative so it's
like giving someone a paint by number set but
you're a watercolor person so it's just like
oh this is okay my hands were tied but it was
a great stepping stone and then when the opportunity
came to join White Peony that was a no -brainer.
And I get to do all kinds of creative things
there. Well, and I think you nailed it on the
head. Like when I think of all the things that
you have done, which are many different pieces,
you said it perfectly. And it kind of gave me
chills down my whole body. You said everything
that I've done leading up to this point has honestly
contributed here. It's brought me to here. It's
all accumulative. And I use every piece of it
now, which is really great. And it just depends
upon your perspective. There were not any places
that I shouldn't have been. They were all there
for a reason. Every time. And you get those little
God winks where you're like, God, I don't know
if. And it's like, nope, this is where you're
supposed to be. I love that. So looking back,
how did motherhood shift the way you viewed purpose
and your creativity? Because creativity definitely
is the number one equation, I think, when I think
of my mom. Motherhood was pivotal. I lost my
mom and dad when I was in my 20s. You were here
when I lost my mom, and then Alex was here when
I lost my dad. It was just really important because
being a parent was the most important job. So
everything after that all was surrounded by to
be the best parent you could be. Any kind of
career was then shifted. So I used to manage
at the hotels, and then it was nope. My kids
aren't going to know who I am. So quit that.
Opened a daycare. Had my little honeys. So I
had a really big family. So that was pretty cool.
And then I was going to do that until the kids
were in kindergarten. And then people started
planning there. families around my openings that
was weird it's like oh that's not a good idea
that's not a good idea but we we had a lot of
fun and it was just really super important to
be able to be there so when the bullies happened
because everybody's got a bully now and then
I could be there and try to head it off the bullies
the bullies you know those bullies life everybody
you come across it whether it's a small event
or if it's a real problem But it was really important
to be able to be there and be part of it all.
And that never changes. I can't look at you.
I'm going to, like, baby cry. You said at one
point you were like, should we face each other?
I'm thinking, bad idea. Bad idea. Really bad
idea. Can we be in separate rooms? I'm going
to go sit in the photo booth. Yeah. Can you send
her the message and the questions? That'd be
great. Oh, man. I think we're going to take it
now to your creativity and service, and then
we'll bring it back a little bit more. Creativity
is really important. It's like some people say,
oh, you're so blessed. It's like, no, it's such
a curse. I sometimes joke about that too. It's
really true. Because you get yourself all sorts
of to -dos and adventures. Well, if I get a creative
idea, I cannot, it gets stuck in my head. And
I can't do anything about it until I either make
it. try, fail, doesn't matter, but it has to
be completed or it won't leave. And then I can
go on to my next wild hair. And then my creativity
when I'm driving or I'm left alone for five minutes
or silent, where I actually can think, my creativity
goes rampant. We can tell because then the text
and the Snapchat start about 6 .30 and Tom will
go, Lindsay's up. Tom is my dad. Yeah, Tom is.
41 years of putting up with my shenanigans. I
love that. No, and I will once, I'm like, gosh,
should we try this? And if I, and my mother -in
-law even knows this. Anyone around me who truly
knows me. But if I say, would you ever want to
run? Put your seatbelt on. Don't run because
she'll find you. Yeah, you're right. Just put
your seatbelt on. We're going to do something
fun. It's going to be a wild ride. It's going
to be an adventure. That is. Probably something
I'm most grateful for because truly when you
take away anxiety, you take away the stress of
a day. If I'm in my peace, calming, whatever
that looks like in the day. That's a 30 minute.
My creativity. I love finding a new strategy,
a new solution, coming up with something. She
doesn't sleep. No, I try to sometimes, but not
really. Puts her out of commission for a minute.
But I do say, I'm so grateful because not everyone
has the creativity. And then there are times
where I also joke, like you said, and say. It's
a curse because you can't stop. If I can't do
something creative within so many days, I get
really crabby and I don't like being crabby.
That's just, it's like petting a cat the wrong
way. It's just out of my vernacular. I don't
like it. I don't want to be part of it. So I
got to make something. So creativity did, where
did this stem from as a child? Like, where did
you get it from? Because I know Tenley has your
creativity in her. Tenley is going to be the
one to be the sewing. She's already sewing with
grandma. Somebody's got to do the mending when
I... I'm not here. I'm not. I love all other
things. You will have no buttons on any of your
clothes. No, I can sew a button. Really? I can
sew a button. Really? Okay. This is what I tell
everyone. I will try to make anything, but I
will not sew, and I will not put a flower arrangement
together. I really am not good at those two things.
No, but she can decorate. Ooh. Yes, that I can
do. Her Christmases. However, Tenly, and I don't
love baking, and I think I don't love baking.
No, but you're a good cook. I love cooking, but
I think that I've tried your cookies too many
times and failed because they're just not the
same. I think everyone can vouch for that with
something. That's my thing. But I used to sell
cookies. Even in high school, there was a little
convenience store and a liquor store, and I used
to have a jar of cookies, fresh cookies, every
day. See? And my mom would be just furious because
I'd make a ton of money, but I never paid her
for the ingredients. Oh, that's a turd. That
also sounds like Tenley, so she 100 % gets it.
Well, we're going to work on that. We'll get
that. Oh, yeah, that was terrible. But, yeah,
the cookies have always been a thing. Yeah, if
there's anything creativity with you, you've
got to let it fly. I have to. Because if you
said you can't, you need creativity. I don't
have a choice. And even when I had my daycare,
when the kiddos would nap, I would work on the
project that would be their next gift. Because
all of their holiday gifts were all homemade.
Yes. Whether it was a bag or a sweatshirt that
had something embroidered or applique on. And
they'd have, like, words of affirmation, like,
you're remarkable. Like, they'd each have a different
word, remarkable, stupendous. And they were big
words. And I had this one little boy who came
from a really, really tough house. I felt so
bad for him. But he was thriving, and he was
going to be ready for school. And I made his
sweatshirt fantastic. And he goes, Mom. Fantastic.
Oh, it's so cool. Seriously, I remember the amount
of work you put in. Okay, so let's say there
was 12 kids in the daycare. Oh, yeah. We always
said between 10 and 15 because I'd get variants.
Well, yeah. The rules are probably a lot different
than from now. I don't know what they are right
now. I'll never forget two gifts. The one, the
sweatshirt that you're talking about. And then
you made the plastic see -through aprons. The
painting aprons. They're so cute. And she would
do things with like their handprints and again,
personalize them. It wasn't just like a little
mini gift for Christmas. Yeah, your dad would
just shake his head and go, oh boy, here she
goes. It's typical. And now another thing when
I think of Mama Jane, not only her creativity,
but absolutely her customer service and how she
makes people feel. So you're also known for your
kindness and incredible customer service. It's
never been about selling for you. It's truly
about serving. I used to get in trouble for that.
Really? Yeah, at one of my... One of my jobs,
my customers would wait for me because they knew
I wasn't going to fluff. I was going to tell
them the truth and do everything I could to help
them and get them the best deal and give them
the best service. And they would wait for me
literally for hours. And I had a quota. And it
was really hard for me to make that quota because
I always had a line of people waiting. So, yeah,
it would get me in a bit of trouble. But it really
didn't matter because... how the customer feels
at the end or your friend or that person at the
gas station it's like Why can't people just be
nice? Well, and care. And care. That's one thing.
That's another thing that I took away from you
is watching her. We would be, and I say, I've
said this in a couple of speeches that I've given,
but we would be in a gas station, complete stranger.
We're checking out, you know, getting snacks
before a basketball tournament or whatever that
is. We were famous for our snacks. Our road trip
adventures. We'd go in and my mom would be the
most. I mean, it was probably, I don't know,
6 a .m. Hopefully it wasn't too friendly because
sometimes that really annoys people. But like,
I feel like as a little girl, I kind of was like,
what mom? Because she would say, thank you, have
a wonderful day. You'd say, do you know them?
Do you know them? Yes. Nope, no friend now. But
the way they'd say, oh, thank you. And it was
like, you could definitely, I've seen this. countless
times with my mom and strangers just giving them
the best gesture asking them how their day was
leaving them completely filled without them even
knowing that's something they needed but you
can see it in their expression and so when I
think about you and deeply caring I often am
like where did that stem from where did you get
that from I think my mom was the She was the
people person, people pleaser, always fixing
things for people. And I ran into an old high
school friend the other day that said, your mom
used to do all of our alterations. She would
do all of their alterations for their family,
and she would do that for all kinds of people,
and baking, and sewing. So she was the people
person that way. Dad was the creative. Mom was
more structured. But yeah, it's just... To be
kind. I mean, just to take that extra minute,
it fills you up just as much as everybody else.
I agree. And like looking back at all of your
customer service and creating something that
made a real impact, is there a certain person
that you had a interaction with or? Well, just
recently we had a couple of gals in to the. boutique
she was just really having a hard day and it's
sometimes when you try clothes on it's don't
look at the number it really has nothing to do
with anything I'd love to cut it all off honestly
it's so dumb and it's it's how you feel in it
it's not the number just hold you back so that
goes back to step outside the box you don't have
a box you don't need a box just do the right
thing do how it makes you feel listen to your
god winks you know Yeah, I agree. When I think
about the values I lead with every day, connection,
creativity, integrity, it all comes back to you.
What are the core values, mom, you tried to instill
in me growing up? Well, it was really important
to be nice. You were a tad bit bossy, but that's
okay. The leadership aspect was deep. It was
really young, but then like we'd go camping every
weekend before all the sports started. And whenever
we'd go camping and whenever you were off to
play, cause it was, you know, free -range parenting
back then. So it was, how many friends are you
going to make today? And I tell you what, you
made, you would bring all these kids back to
our camp and go, Mom, and this one, and this
one, and this one, and this one. This is my new
friend. And my new friend. And there were always,
you know, more than one. And then you had ped
pals. And there was one when you were really
little. I mean, and to write a letter was...
really tricky. And you guys kept in touch for
years. Yeah, we did. I definitely remember that.
Then when sports started, it was, you know, how
many new friends did you make on your team? So
all of those connection parts were really important.
So you've got kindness, you have your connection,
hard work. That was really important because,
you know, when you have restaurants at the state
fair, it's really great that grandma and grandpa
wants you to come and work for them, but they
don't want you to just sit at the counter and
say hi to everybody. You've got to work. And
it's a lot of work. You're up at three. the morning
and you probably don't get to bed till nine o
'clock at night and or later as you get older
as you get older you don't care a lot less sleep
than that right she'd come back with babies in
her eyes but lots of tips and people would come
back every year to the state fair to see you
yeah they were like where's lindsey and she's
going to be here this year right and these little
guys that were customers for you know 40 years
before we were even at the fair or 30 and They
just loved seeing Lindsay because you made sure
that they were happy and they got their food,
but you were always cheerful and you always went
above. Well, and that's where I get it from you.
Like I think of little Lindsay at the State Fair
and I kind of observed my grandpa making these
connections with everybody. Oh, he was great.
He should have been the ambassador. Literally.
And then when I think of my mom talking with
anybody. So from watching you and my grandfather
and my grandma. And Grandma Bev. Yep. She was
always there. But I learned very quickly that
just by taking a little lecture with customer
service, not just bringing food, not just asking
what they want, asking them how their day. was
so far asking them where they're going to go
to next what's your favorite part of the fair
and literally as a young girl I started asking
more questions but I realized that connection
that connection piece was made and these individuals
legitimately did come every year to see me. And
then when I had my second daughter is when I
kind of took a back seat and my grandma would
call me almost every day and say, Lindsay, so
-and -so is asking where you're, you've got to
come back. They're asking where you are. We need
you at the fair. Can you work this weekend? And
she's, well. It's been pretty cool because now
my kids are at the fair for a little bit and
they're learning kind of. that customer service
route. So it's pretty incredible. You know, and
with the customer service thing, and when you're
trying to be kind to all these people, every
once in a while, I mean, those bullies do pop
up. And then now you've got to stand up for yourself
and believe in yourself and the integrity and
never settle. Well, for me, one thing I wrote
down here, a value that you definitely instilled
in me is to believe in yourself or self worth,
self belief, self esteem, you know, and that
is something I think. everybody battles so it
has never been perfect for me by any means but
I think you're speaking to that where you have
always told me to stand up for myself in a very
respectful way yes Punching is not an option.
No, no. It's not suggested. Not an option. No.
No, honestly. And it's not that I've never been
one, even to this day. I hate confrontation.
Yeah, me too. But you have to stand up for yourself.
I mean, when somebody is calling out your integrity
or is calling out the way you look in their eyes,
that's just... wrong. When I was, I don't know,
was it sixth grade? Fifth, sixth. Fifth, sixth
grade. That was tough. I did. I had a bully that
would call me fat almost every day or make a
comment about my size. And you guys at the time,
I mean, you know, you're fifth and sixth grade
and it was right before travel basketball and
looking back and it doesn't even matter. It's
before you really start to develop. So you've
got your little kid body, you know, you've got
little cheekers and you got your little tummy,
but you're a kid and you're busy and Who cares?
And then she was just, oh, she was something.
When this bully was being a bully, it was really
important that you stood up to her. At some point,
you had to decide that this is enough. Well,
and I think in the beginning, you were like,
little Lindsay, ignore her. You know, the one
thing I did say is I said, take it to the court.
Yeah. The basketball court. You guys, does she
play basketball? Maybe she'll take you to the
court. No, you can talk about it. Yeah, because
I wasn't ever one to be confrontational or anything
like that. But she was a different, you were
a different person on the court. Yeah, I love
playing basketball. Yep. But no, and then one
day you literally finally said, Lindsay. Well,
it was enough is enough because you would come
home and be so, so sad. It was just devastating.
And what do you do? I mean, you have to figure
it out. And one day you came home and you were
walking a little taller and your head was a little
higher. And I went, so how'd it go today? And
she went, I figured it out. And she won't be
doing that anymore. You just addressed it. And
it was like, okay. And it wasn't, I know exactly
what was said. And it wasn't negative. None of
it was negative and none of it was physical.
And it was just, you were like, just knock it
off. And it took care of it. Yeah. But then it
was an aha moment. So from little Lindy. To sports
for, you know, at one point I think I thought
I was going to the WNBA. Actually, I didn't think.
Yeah, she was. I knew I was going to. They hadn't
formed it yet, but she was going there. Yeah,
I'm not that old. Oh, you know what she did?
They did too have the WNBA. When she was 12,
she wrote a letter to Nike and Adidas and chewed
them out. She did. She did. She's like, how do
you expect? girls, or women to play basketball
at their highest level when you only make men's
sports shoes. And there was like two options,
if that, and they were hideous. And I was like,
I want basketball shoes. She was a fashion diva
already. Who knew? I actually didn't put that
together. I didn't either until just now. Well,
okay. So that didn't work. They didn't respond.
Senior year in basketball was really rough for
me mentally. So there's little rocky moments,
getting through sports and a mental asset. Psychology.
Thank goodness for five years of psychology.
college because I needed it and then I took a
new role at one point in a previous career and
honestly I was pretty hated on for a solid month
I would come home and cry almost every single
day and I was like maybe it's not worth it maybe
it's not worth it they don't like me they don't
want me to be in this position and my mom said
everything looking back to every ounce of questioning
my worth or who I was or having imposter syndrome
in any way shape or form you have always said
Lindsay just be you just be you they can help
but love you I mean my goodness they'll figure
it out they'll feel you always say they'll figure
out who you really are and you do say they'll
love you but that might be coming just from that's
just the mommy thing I can't help it yeah but
no you really you have to just be yourself not
everybody's gonna like you and that's okay we've
taken it back a little bit but I kind of want
to like let's take it present time what mom does
success mean to you not in terms of money or
status but In the way you live and love. Am I
getting a raise? It depends. It depends upon
how good this episode goes. This is pressure.
You know, it's success. It's all perspective.
Really, if you saw how tiny my house is, you'd
go, what the heck? And I complain because I've
been there for 40 years. But, you know, we laugh
every day. I am so fortunate. So I think that's
success. I had plenty of failings, and I tried
a new recipe yesterday, and it was horrible.
That was, oh, wasted. But, no, it's all perspective
and how you. How you look at it. I mean, you
have a choice. I could be a victim from being
poor and having a tumultuous, you know, growing
up. Or I could use that as, man, I have learned
so many things and I am so much stronger because
of it. So you have a choice. I didn't know if
I should go there, but I'm going to go there
because this is a piece of your story. Oh, I'm
going to cry now. Oh, here she goes. is 100 %
contributes to the incredible human you are today
and how strong you are but when you say you know
you can be a victim or victor take it back to
why why did you say that what did you go through
growing up was pretty pretty tumultuous my father
was a violent alcoholic that tried to kill my
mom many times and that's not to make light of
it because we did get him the help he needed.
And he did quit drinking when I was in high school,
went through Project Turnabout, which was a remarkable
place. And I did a lot of counseling then too,
which really helped. It took me a lot longer
to get over it. Well, I don't know if you ever
really get over it. But it took until recently
when I could say, okay, this is who I am and
I'm okay. I could see the difference when he
drank. And was violent. And when he didn't, he
was a totally different person. So I could differentiate
between the two. And I just think of all the
things that I learned and could see in a different
light that just made me so much stronger. I had
a choice. Oh, this is terrible. Oh, what a terrible
thing to go through. You know, yeah, life is
tough. And then? But then. When did he get sober?
Fantastic guy. Totally fantastic guy. And then
we had a bout with cancer, and then we got over
that, and then I came back, and I lost my mom
in the middle of my dad's cancer. So it was all
just, that was just really a rough, I don't know,
it was just a really deep time. And you just
learn. I mean, you have to learn from it and
be stronger from it, and I think that's why I
dove into being mom so, so deep. Yeah, I agree.
So we had lost, well, you were born, so we got
married in... 84. We had you in 86. Yep. Lost
my mom in 87. Nobody do the math. We had Alex
in 88. And we lost my dad in 89. So it was just
a rough five years. And, you know, I learned
so much. I just think it really made me a lot
stronger. I would agree. Made me believe deeper.
That's probably where that passion stems from.
Yeah, I think so. I think so. Because I'm, you
know. Get me in a bear hug with one of my grandbabies.
Kind of wrapping everything up here. What advice
would you give to someone listening who's trying
to figure out their next step or wondering if
it's too late to start something new? Well, it's
never too late. First of all, you need to get
rid of the box, that stupid box. She talks about
that a lot. I do. It's because people are like,
stay inside the box and stay inside the lines
and stop it. Just get rid of the box. what did
you really like to do when you were young? What
was that thing that just really made you so full
of joy? Why is it too late? If you didn't know
how old you are when your birthday was, how old
are you? I don't know. Go for it. Embrace whatever.
I agree. I also think that as you grow up and
get a little bit older, the more and more you
should deep dive into what fuels you and the
values that you stand strong. You have to keep
looking at it because when you're a mom, Or a
dad. You get so involved in your children, you
forget your passions. And pretty soon those little
honeys are going to be off doing their own thing.
And then what are you going to do? How are you
going to get along with each other? What's going
to fill your cup? Because sometimes the kids
fly and, you know, they just go. And my mom always
says, you've got to find a purpose. Everyone
wants a purpose. Oh, you have to have a purpose.
Even when you're old. Even my mother -in -law
at 91. she has to have a purpose so when she's
knitting her afghans or helping somebody with
she's now in assisted living but now you know
helping someone with a puzzle or you have to
have purpose or you just lose hope so it's never
too late Oh, no. Ever? Never. Just ask my brother.
He's 80 years old. He just bought a sewing machine,
taught himself how to sew, and made his curtains
in his house, like a dozen curtains. Because
somebody said, we can't make those. Really? He
has some of the same values, that's for sure.
Yeah, I think that's, his was part of it too,
that passion. Very much driven. I love this.
This is good. That was fun. Can you believe we're
doing this? No. This is so outside of my comfort
zone. Actually, mine too. And you didn't get
hives. I didn't. I'm so proud. I know, thanks.
When she first started doing white peony lives,
she would go out and I'm trying so hard to be
quiet in the background, which is impossible
for me to do. So she would go out and do her
live and then she'd come back in the back to
change and we'd repowder her neck and chest because
she was this thermometer of red going up her
neck because she was so nervous. As things were
growing a little bit and I realized more and
more people were watching and I didn't, you know,
you don't even think about it, but then I would
be on the... public or doing something. And so
I'd be like, Oh, I want, you know, more and more
people would say, I'd watch this live on, I'd,
you know, I bought this on there and I'm like,
Oh wow, it's getting serious. We're getting serious.
And then it got more nervous, but I still one
foot in front of the other still did it. Yeah,
you did really well. And it was crazy because
when you started and it was in your basement
and we had before that had, we were doing a craft
show out of your garage and people were buying
stuff as fast as we could get them finished.
That was fun. That was so fun. And then it was
like, why don't you, she was like, I just love
to start a boutique. And it's like, well, what
are you waiting for? Yeah. So you get old. That's
a great idea. Do it now. Do it now. Just do it.
Find a way. There's always a way, whether it's
a smaller version or there's always a way. I
love that. Well, mom, I could honestly talk to
you for hours and we often do. And we do. But
I just want to say thank you for raising me with
heart. Thank you for showing me that hard work
and kindness are never wasted. You turned out
pretty good. Thank you for reminding me every
day. that anything is possible and you can do
it when you believe in yourself and the people
around you and when you hear lindsay say would
you ever want to run buckle up no don't run she'll
find you just right okay buckle up you are the
foundation of so much of my life in business
and today i hope everyone listening got a glimpse
into just how lucky i am to call you my mom oh
that's very sweet Keep dreaming, keep striving,
and keep making a difference.