living area at the juniper cottage on the leelanau peninsula

for my birthday this year, we decided to take a mini trip to northern michigan. we traveled up to the leelanau peninsula to enjoy a quiet weekend away from our regular schedule. we found a small, welcoming cottage right on the bay, and quickly packed our bags for the trip.

the cottage was the cutest thing with the perfect touches to make a vacation just right- cozy living space with calming neutral colors and modern taste. each room was attended to down to the last detail, which we appreciated!

a short 30 second walk from our cabin to this view

our time away was not just for fun, being honest, i needed to take some time away from the studio. as a small business owner, you never really get to take time off- you wear all the hats needed to make your business run, and you wear them 24/7. business never stops... even when YOU need to.

burnout is a very real thing, especially for small business owners whose life is very much entwined with their businesses- this is something I struggle with EVERY DAY. people say "do what you love and you'll never work a day in your life". i'm calling that out as false right now, and I'll explain why...

cozy reading nook at the juniper cottage

i LOVE making candles. i LOVE mixing scents and creating beautiful products for you to take home and love yourself. unfortunately, i only make candles one day every few weeks- if that! the other days i'm running the business, and being honest, 99% of the day I’m sitting behind a computer (like i am right now, lol)...

it's not all rainbows + sunshine. it is in fact, work. which is why i am here on vacation feeling so incredibly grateful for our employees who are there when i cannot be, grateful for our customers who keep our shop open and provide enough business to hire employees, grateful for our supportive neighbors on wealthy street who help us build community, and grateful for our future growth as a small business by making sure I also take care of myself 🙌🏻☕️ so here is a huge thanks to the folks at the juniper cottage for giving me such a lovely time away to relax and rejuvenate- we will definitely be back!