What a weekend!

As you may have seen, I spent the past few days in Denver attending the Evolve Conference for Retailers. This was my third year attending alongside Audrey, and this time, our newest team member Kirsten joined us as well!

So what is Evolve, you ask?
It’s a transformational experience for retailers who are ready to embrace change, grow with confidence, and lead with intention. It's for retailers who are looking ahead—open to evolution, connection, and inspiration.

Every year, Audrey and I leave thinking, what more could there possibly be to learn? And every year, Crystal Vilkaitis—aka “The Wolf of Main Street”—brings something new to the table. This year was no exception.

But in my opinion, the very best part of the conference is the connections. We meet incredible retailers from all across the country—New York, Georgia, Kansas, California, and more. We talk, we laugh, we share ideas, and we grow together. We reconnect with old friends and make new ones. It’s a big world out there, but when it comes to small business? It’s also a beautifully small one.

Why am I still going to educational conferences?

I know, I know—some people wonder why, at this stage of life, I’m still signing up for conferences and classes. “You already run two great businesses,” they say. “Why not just sit back and enjoy?”

Well, here’s the truth: I don’t believe in becoming complacent.
Yes, we can find ways to be more efficient and enjoy life more—but growth doesn’t stop. Not for people, and not for businesses.

Many years ago, I earned my degree in Marketing—and to this day, I still love every aspect of it: the strategy, the creativity, the storytelling.

True confession time: I actually started college as a design major. My dream was interior design. I idolized Martha Stewart. I had every one of her books. I was sure I’d be the next her.

Then I came home from college over Christmas break and told my dad my plan.

He said, “What the hell are you going to do with that? If you’re going to own your own business one day, you need a degree in business.”

Well… he was paying the tuition. And I am a people pleaser. So I changed my major.
Was I sad? Yes.
Was it the right decision? Probably.

That pivot led me into the hotel industry, and eventually to building our family business. And now? I get to blend it all—I use my marketing degree every day, and my love for design gets poured into The View Cafe & The Best Western Vista Inn

The tools change. The heart stays the same.

The world looks a lot different than it did when I got that degree. Social media, virtual work, AI—it’s all reshaping how we market. But the core of marketing hasn’t changed: it’s still about understanding your customer, building relationships, and creating experiences.

People still crave connection. They want places that feel like community.
That’s what this conference helps us stay tuned into—it helps us stay relevant, inspired, and a step ahead of the curve.

In fact, this conference is the reason you now see me showing up in those Instagram and Facebook videos (yep, that’s where the “get in front of the camera” moment happened).
Is that a good thing? The verdict’s still out. 😉

And the speakers—wow.

Last year, I was blown away by Donald Miller. This year, Jon Schallert was a standout.
Both delivered fresh, practical, and impactful ideas for our businesses and our personal lives—with plenty of laughs in between.

So that’s a little peek into our weekend at Evolve. We came back with fresh ideas, new tools, and a renewed sense of purpose—and we can’t wait to bring all of it to both The View Cafe and The Best Western Vista Inn.

Thanks for being on this journey with us.

P.S. No recipe this week—but I promise a fun Easter idea in next week’s blog, so stay tuned!