BUILDING A COMMUNITY
This month my website is being completed and taking on an even more ideal outcome! I had hoped to build a community and it is coming to fruition. I envisioned a way to bring together people who were looking for wellness information for themselves, their relationships, & their families. For the past six months, I have been connecting with individuals & companies to help build up the resources within the website.
Above is my logo which I painted over the summer! Included are my favorite “flora” with interesting roots & beauty that represents the history of my family & our community! I hope to do the same with my website! I hope it may be rooted in our community and provide a beautiful way for people and families to connect!
Hydrangea: My family is from the Azores, and my Avo immigrated to the U.S., settling not far from where my family moved five years ago. With deep roots in Portugal, I’m incredibly grateful that our new home has a Portuguese community—it brings back memories of my Avo and keeps me connected to my heritage.
Rose: Growing up, my father was in charge of a rose garden project in Central California, helping to plan and plant hundreds of roses in a beautifully landscaped garden. When I went away to college, I lived with my Avo, who had over a hundred roses in her front and backyard near Pasadena, California.
My college also connected Rose Parade floats with our sister school in San Luis Obispo where my family now lives. One of my favorite Rose Parade memories came after college when I had the incredible opportunity to sit along the parade route with the Marines, alongside a friend whose husband is a Marine.
Dandelion: This month is the Month of the Military Child and Family, and I just recently found a beautifully, connected book about how the children in Military families are called dandelions because of how they often move frequently, adapting to new homes, schools, and communities all over the world. Despite the challenges, they tend to remain grounded and emotionally strong!
Even before moving here, we loved seeing dandelions, making wishes, and trying to blow as many of the feathery seeds off the flower as possible! My buddy teacher, Jess, and I used to do the sweetest project with our students using a giant dandelion.
As I decided the name of the parenting community & the symbolism of the ampersand, I walked into the store “Off Bellevue” owned by Donata Barber! I walked in and saw a GIANT & and had an epiphany. The & is symbolic of connection, working together with others, and I wanted to use my giant & at my events!
I look forward to building meaningful connections and a strong community through my business, which is dedicated to guiding individuals, loved ones, and families to thrive!