Fresh Joy, a blog — mission & values

For months now, I've been struggling to stay sane in what feels like an insane world. To balance the responsibilities of every day life and business amidst the reality of what's happening around us. Reading the daily news, then doing the dishes or drawing new designs for an upcoming collection requires compartmentalization like nothing I've experienced before. Striking a balance between staying informed but not letting the heartbreak and rage take over is a constant battle. If you feel the same, please know you're not alone. I have been very vocal in my personal life and social media presence about...

One of the earlier and easier decisions we made when starting and the moon will rise was pledging 5% of all product sales to nonprofit organizations committed to empowering women and girls around the world. Every six months, we select an organization to receive the funds and highlight on our website and promotional materials.Our first recipient was the Global Fund for Women, which received a donation equivalent to 5% of all product sales from our launch in November 2019 through June 2020. Making that first donation on behalf of and the moon will rise was one of my proudest moments to date as a small business owner....

When the movement to defund the police was gaining steam, a friend asked whether I supported it or not. I wanted to enthusiastically declare, "yes, of course!" But in all honesty, I didn't know if I supported it or not because I didn't know what defunding the police really meant.In that moment, I could have made some quick assumptions and responded accordingly. But it wouldn't have been an honest answer or lead to an honest conversation. So I admitted to her that I didn't know much about it. I was a little embarrassed, but my vulnerability opened the door for an educational...

Over the past few months, a lot of people have offered condolences that my name has become a derisive term for entitled, middle-aged, racist, white women. What began as a loose association with a distinct "I want to speak to your manager" hair style (see Kate Gosselin circa 2008) has evolved into a racially-charged pejorative for women who make false and discriminatory calls to law enforcement.Personally, I like to think that I'm not a 'Karen'. I shy away from speaking to the manager (unless it's to share positive feedback). I hate making a scene (except on the dance floor, of course). And I'm...

Like many small business owners, I've struggled over the last several weeks with the best ways to use my voice, platform and privilege to support anti-racism. I'm working behind the scenes to learn and unlearn, engage and support. I'm taking action with protests, donations and hard discussions. But I haven't shared very much publicly. That changes today. and the moon will rise has taken, and will be held accountable for, the Anti-Racist Small Business Pledge (a big thanks to Rachel Rodgers' Reimagining Small Business Town Hall). As part of that pledge, I am committed to: naming white supremacy and the impact of racism on both my personal and professional life;...