There are moments in your entrepreneurial journey that stay with you forever. For me, one of those moments is our very first Small Business Saturday back in 2012. We were tucked into our tiny hometown community, right off Main Street, and everything about that day felt magical. The crowd, the energy, the shared joy of supporting local shops — it felt like a scene out of a holiday movie.
That same year, my mom and I decorated a town light pole for Christmas. It was one of those unforgettable mother–daughter moments filled with equal parts laughter and chaos. To this day, we still chuckle about it.
A few years later, I stepped into a new role as our town’s Downtown Main Street Executive Director — and it was one of the most rewarding chapters of my career. Being the person who distributed Small Business Saturday materials and helped local entrepreneurs shine during the holiday season was an honor I’ll always treasure.
Fast forward to today. While we no longer have a brick-and-mortar storefront, my passion for small business remains front and center. It’s one of the reasons I’m creating Sweet Life Middletown, a digital publication dedicated to telling the stories of the people, places, and businesses that make our community feel like home.
This year, I’m celebrating by handwriting Candy Grahams™ to my business besties and sipping tea from my favorite mug purchased at F+L Boutique. Of course, I picked up a few extra as gifts for my son’s teachers — shopping small just hits differently.
Whether you shop with us or visit your local Main Street, please know:
Every time you shop small, you’re supporting someone’s dream.
And that’s something worth celebrating. 💛