What Moving, Marriage, and Faith Really Look Like Behind the Scenes

Walking Through the Season Where Everything Changed

(Last Photo Taken at our old home in Corpus Christi)

Last time we left off, I was literally living in an entirely different state! It still feels unreal! Now I'm sitting comfortably at my desk with the steady hum of freshly washed clothes tumbling in the dryer and my daughter humming sweet melodies as she plays The Sims. It’s like nothing happened; here I am, just back in my routine, like life copied and pasted itself to the other side of the United States. After the excitement and rollercoaster ride of moving to Atlanta… the boxes have been recycled and the dust is beginning to settle.

(We finally finished packing the truck ready to drive off to Georgia)

I call bullshit if anyone ever tells you that moving and transitioning myself, four other individuals, and our business to a different state was easy. I lived in Corpus Christi for nine years, and that was comfortable, familiar, and just was. So moving to a different terrain—geographically and economically new and confusing—was a lot.

After just celebrating six years of business for Lemon Box Beauty this past June, making this move was a much-needed catalyst to stay uncomfortable so I could grow.

Running a business, just like any job, requires work and systems that need to be executed. But there were some weird challenges that I faced on top of all of it—things I'm not even sure how I stayed sane through:

• For starters, I haven't had a car since 2022 in a town that's not what you would call walkable.

• I have to share my husband with another woman and another child (well, the child part is pretty normal these days).

• I love a man who has no desire for "fun things"—business comes first.

• I run two businesses now, homeschool, and am expected to be "Queen" with another woman in my house.

I know, I know... it sounds crazy, borderline crazy. I honestly wouldn't be able to do any of this without GOD. The cards were dealt, and this is how the story goes.

(So Grateful 🥰)

I am grateful for the roof over my head, the ability to homeschool my daughter, and having her under my wing to teach her lifestyle and street smarts. I am grateful for my self-growth, but of course, it came with a WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLE lot of trials and tribulations, to say the least.

Which brings me to the biggest change I am dealing with today! Over the past month, I've entered hell and back—and I liked it. The feeling of giving up the front of being okay and being strong was a nice break from reality. It's so easy to just slip away from reality and live in bliss. But I know in my heart it's not the place I belong. That's the kicker: when your eyes open and you KNOW... you can't unsee that shit. I can pretend I don't see it, but eventually, the feeling of "ignorance is bliss" eats at your soul, and you just have to snap out of it.

The main challenge I faced this month was one thing and one thing alone. You would think it was the sudden move across state lines, figuring out our new branding, or even finding pop-up markets quickly so we could make sure we were still making money... but all that was a piece of cake.

What got me was the woman my husband and I have been living with for the last three years. I was tired of her being around my husband and spending time with him. You may ask, "You've been doing it for three-plus years, so what changed?" Well, of course, when you get comfortable, you see the hidden problems in yourself that slipped between the cracks. It was easier in Corpus; I honestly didn't have to deal with her much. She worked Monday through Friday at an office away from the house from 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM, five days a week. She would get home, I'd say hi, spend my evening with my daughter in her room, call it a night, and repeat that Monday through Friday.

On the weekends, I had pop-up markets pretty much every Saturday. So it was easily doable and simple. Things felt okay. Fast forward to moving to Atlanta: she still works for the same company, but from home, so she's here EVERY SINGLE DAY. And I haven't had to deal with another woman in my entire life except my mother. So, dealing with that—and the constant back-and-forth of my husband going between me and my daughter, and his other woman and daughter...

(How I was feeling, spinning and can't get out)

So, hooray for self-sabotage! NOT.

It's literally my go-to for giving up!

All I want is attention from the one person I love in this world, and when I feel like I'm not getting it, I spiral and self-sabotage. I'd rather hurt myself than anyone else, but for one, it's not fair to the other person. If you know me—like, really know me—you know I don't care what people say. The only thing that matters are what my husband says, and GOD, of course.

I have absolutely no clue if being transparent with you is teaching or inspiring, but honestly, I don't care... I just want others to know you're not alone. Everyone's in hell, and with God, we are here on this earth to seek the Kingdom of God, and we will gain heaven on earth.

(I felt 'okay' this day)

So yeah, that's been life as of late: rebuilding my relationship with God after I've torn it down a thousand times by now; building up the amazing two companies I now run, Lemon Box Beauty and Usako Mini; creating and executing the systems for our newest project for our YouTube channel, Inside the Box ( still a work in progress); homeschooling my third grader while figuring out how to maneuver living with a three-year-old (this is challenging because I am not in that toddler season of my life anymore, and honestly, my patience is thin). It's crazy because I worked with kids eight years old and younger for seven years. My patience is great when I'm getting paid, but when you're not and they're in your work environment, it gets rough, y'all. Kids are wonderful for legacy and changing the world, ha ha, but I'm tired...

But one thing I know for certain is that none of us have this life figured out... and we're not here to figure it out. We're here to look inside ourselves and use our God-given gifts to be fruitful and multiply. I'm so incredibly grateful for the decisions my husband makes. Of course, we all make mistakes, and just like God, grace and mercy are in order. So before you come at me or my husband, we're still family, and it apparently takes a village, ha ha—she's got jokes! But I couldn't do this business without all that I've been through... this is my life path that led to the great things we have uncovered in ourselves to create and share our life experiences and products with the world.

So there you have it. With fall officially just two weeks out, as we transition into this new season, my entire makeup has made a 180... and I don't know where this leads me, but I took that leap of faith by moving on a whim of faith in God. Atlanta, get ready, we're here!

So instead of feeling sorry, confused, or happy for me... shop our natural beauty products, invest in yourself, and support me one order at a time!

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