The Chronicles of Being a Mama, Wife & Business Owner...Chapter 1

How do you start the first blog of a series of blogs?....How do you start a blog at all?...They say it's theraputic to write your thoughts out...it can be good to air your thoughts to help move forward in your life & career. So here I am, airing my everyday (hopefully humerous) thoughts...juggling the life of a Mama of 2 boys, Wife to my high school sweetheart and Business Owner to what I hope you view as a sweet little gift shop in a small town.

Where do I begin?

Hi. I'm Tiffany Keffalas. I'm a 25....29....nope...28-year-old Mama of 2 boys (Percy 4 and Elias 2 months). The running joke in my family is that I never know my actual age...I'm still not 100% convinced I am 28...I tell them I have more important things to remember in the day...which isn't false. I'm lucky if I remember what day of the week it is let alone my own age...and to my defense, I'm always working a 14 hour day on my birthday at Farm Show, so does it even count if you don't really celebrate it?

...Anyways, my husband (Michael Beamer) and I have been married for 6 years and together for 11 years...which I still don't know how is possible since I was in high school less than 5 years ago...maybe that's why I can't ever remember my age...I have no concept of time...time flies when your having fun...atleast that's what they say.

My little family owns the shop Keffalas Designs, located on Route 8 in Penn Twp. Butler, PA. We've put all of our heart and soul (and money) into this passion project that started as a side hustle and has grown into something we never quite imagined. We focus on giving back to our community in anyway we can, helping those in need and ultimately spreading joy and kindness through gift giving.

When we say this is a family affair, you can fully expect to be greeted some days by a 4 year-old running through the store shoeless and quite possibly still in his pajamas at 3 o'clock in the afternoon. Mimi, Paps, Grandmas and Grandpas helping barcode clothing, ring customers, and help get us set up at events. Baby Elias in a baby wearer behind the register and Percy convinced his last name is keffalasdesigns.com as he steals another toy off the shelf and runs to the back office. Some days...most days... we are ultimately a hot mess express...but we hope (and pray daily) anyone who comes through the door is on the same page as us...or atleast has been on that page in their book of life at some point and can relate to the shoeless pre-schooler running through the store with his Buzz Lightyear spaceship. Small business is hard. Raising kids is harder. Doing both simultaneously...is not for the faint of heart.

We have been very blessed over the years to be surrounded by clients who keep coming back...even when they see us on some of our harder days...you know...the days when you feel like you've been personally victimized by a toddler and you've felt like nothing has gone right or gotten done. For us, in this moment, it feels like alot of the days are hard, but at the end of the day we are doing what we love and we really wouldn't have it any other way.

If you've made it this far...I'm hoping to post something weekly...a little chronicle of our lives as business owners while raising a family. Keeping things light hearted and hopefully relatable...or at the very least leave you with a laugh.

See you at the shop!

Tiffany