In 2017, I started freelance writing as a side hustle, picking up projects while working other jobs.

When the pandemic hit, I took the leap into freelancing full-time. It wasn’t smooth sailing — I undercharged, overworked, and learned the hard way that self-employment comes with its own set of challenges.

But growth happens in the messy middle.

As I found my footing in my career, I also found my footing in life. In 2021, I got sober, and everything started to shift. Recovery gave me clarity and confidence, plus the ability to show up for myself in ways I never had before. It made me realize that I wanted more: more freedom, more purpose, more intention in my work.

I stopped playing small. I raised my rates and refined my craft while starting to work with clients who valued what I brought to the table. By 2023, my business was thriving, and my life had completely transformed.

That same year, I met my partner, a Frenchman who turned my world upside down (in the best way). Falling in love brought me to the French Riviera, where I've built a home base in Nice. And somewhere in the middle of all that change, I started a Substack.

It began as a place to write about my life in France. Learning to slow down after years of hustle. Figuring out what I actually wanted my days to look like. I didn't have an email list or a marketing strategy. I just wanted somewhere to put all the thoughts that didn't fit anywhere else.

And then people started showing up. Petal + Hearth grew to 5,000+ subscribers in my first year. I hit the bestseller list twelve times. What started as a creative outlet became a real community of women who are building more intentional lives alongside me.