i have some exciting news to share this morning!

and by exciting i mean...fun. supportive. encouraging. all the warm fuzzies.

it all started a few months ago when i was thinking of myself as a small (small small small) business owner. i've been stretching myself, but at the same time, loving it.

i was looking at other instagram accounts and online shops and i just kept thinking - how in the hell are these ladies doing it? they are moms. they are running businesses. and they actually appear to be getting dressed every day (something i've been struggling with).

meanwhile - here i am telling my two best gals, "mommy's working for just a few more minutes!.........." in yoga pants with unbrushed teeth...and hair. unbrushed teeth and hair. hello time management - i clearly missed this lesson in college.

it got me thinking - i would so love to talk with other women in my shoes. i need to pick some brains. get some ideas. learrrrrrn from these gals!

and then i though - hello! i write a blog. i could learn from these gals AND feature their businesses on my blog. that's a win / win all over the place, am-i-right? i'm right.

so today i'm so excited to share with you maegen of the modern tulip. but...not only does she write a wonderful blog, last year she and her husband teamed up to start their own business...i'll let her share the story...

maegen says - 

Girl I think you are rocking life to say the least! This mommin' gig and business owner gig ain't for the weary I can admit that much. Sometimes I get myself totally together and head out the door and it's 2pm before I've realized I've forgotten to brush me teeth. So I hope that puts it into some perspective for you.

I do NOT have my sh*t together. And when I envy those I think who do - I remember they are probably on the struggle bus in the same way! (karli says - preach it!)

Mimi's Cookies & Creamery is our sweet little new baby on top of the other two real life babies

KARLI | where did your idea for your small business come from?

MAEGEN | My mother-in-law (aka Mimi to the grandkids) is known for her famous chocolate chip cookie. And if she knows people are coming over she whips up a batch so that when you walk in the door they are coming out fresh and warm from the oven. Oh my soul - talk about divine! We've always joked she should have a milk and cookies truck and share her famous, delicious cookies with the world. My husband scours craiglists and other trade/sell websites for old cars. (karli says - is this a guy thing? my farmer does the exact same thing.) He stumbled upon the 1957 Grumman Oleson truck and instantly thought, "this would be perfect for the cookie truck!". It started as a joke and before we knew it Mimi's Cookies N' Creamery was born and 4 months later we had the LLC in hand, truck renovated and we were making our first batch of cookies and ordering in ice cream to share with our community. It was a whirlwind!

KARLI | who is your biggest support?

 My husband and I run this business together so we support one another majorly, but my mother-in-law is our biggest support. She's always willing to watch the kids so that we can get something done or she helps bake cookies if we get majorly busy. She's proud to be the Mimi behind the truck and it definitely brings her joy to see how successful it's been!

KARLI | any valuable lessons learned?

MAEGEN | Delegation. I'm one of those people who wants it done a certain way and I'm pretty sure I'm the only person who knows how to accomplish that. Cue the eye roll! It puts so much pressure on me and when I can't come through (because I can't do all things) I get frustrated with myself. I'm learning to delegate tasks to my husband and our employees. It's been a big blessing because not only does it take some pressure off me, but they have great ideas and come up with things I would have never thought of myself. Win, win!

KARLI | what would you say to someone who wants to start their own small business?

 MAEGEN | Success doesn't happen over night. It takes a lot of dreaming, planning, scribbling and scratching out.

KARLI | how do you balance your business and your kids?

MAEGEN | I think I'll always be trying to find balance because my kids schedules are ever changing as well as my business priorities. I do my best to work before they wake up, during nap time or after they go to bed. I just try not to do it every single day because otherwise I get burnt out. So one day I might take a nap while they nap or do housework, read, paint my nails instead. And I'll plan to work that morning or night to make up for it. Maybe the next day I'll work through nap time and I won't do an ounce of work after they go to bed and I'll instead spend time snuggling my husband while watching Netflix. I've learned balance won't always look the same day to day.

KARLI | future plans for Mimi's?

MAEGEN | We want to have a lot more Mimi's trucks in the surrounding areas and then maybe one day (wayyyyy down the road) all across the US. The key is to keep dreaming big dreams!

KARLI | do you work outside the home for someone else in some capacity?

MAEGEN | I do not work outside the home. Just mama/blogger/business owner

KARLI | where do you see Mimi's in one and five years?

MAEGEN | In 1 and 5 years I see us having a few more trucks and possibly a brick and mortar here in Johnson City, TN.
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oh mercy! did everyone else love reading about maegen's mimi's as much as i did? i mean...that's rock star status. can you even imagine being her kids (when they get a bit older)? they'll be going to school saying...yeah...my mom and dad have an ice cream truck. NBD.

my girls will go to school and say...yesterday i picked up some feed corn out of a field.

it doesn't have quiiiiite the same umph. ya know?

but ice cream - ice cream is the love language of all ages. TRUTH.

so, if you just happen to be in the johnson city, tennessee area and need to book a truck...i hear Mimi's is super, extra yummy! or, we can support this working mama in other ways! visit her...


and hey! are you a mama or know of a mama who wants to be featured on Sept. Farm for the Monday Mama series? i'd absolutely love that. the only criteria is that you have to be a mama AND have started your own business...you know, so you can share your wealth of knowledge on how you're keeping your sh*t together while simultaneously tending your children throughout the day AND working. hello power-multi-tasker. just send me an e-mail at karli@sept-farm.com.