What if one moment could change everything?
How a few unexpected sparks shaped the way I work and live.
Hello Style Pantry friends,
Lately, I’ve been thinking about the moments that change the way we see ourselves — those flashes when we suddenly think, Maybe I can do that too.
They’re not always dramatic. Sometimes it’s a single sentence, but the right words at the right time can shift a person’s life. When you tell someone you’re proud of them or name the talent you see in them, it can plant a seed they didn’t know was there.
This week, I wanted to share a few of the moments that shaped me — as a designer, a cook, and a person — and why they’re at the heart of everything I create. My hope is that they’ll make you think about your own “aha moments,” and maybe even see a new one coming.
In 2010, I was flipping through the Wall Street Journal Style section when I saw a photo of designer Anya Hindmarch — arms full of her bags, smiling, looking like any other woman you might pass on the street.
She wasn’t styled to be intimidating. She was simply herself, and she was succeeding.
Something in me shifted. She looks like me, I thought. Maybe I can do that too. I didn’t have the connections or the credentials, but I had ideas, a clear sense of style, and the determination to try.
Four years later, I opened The Tennessean and saw my own face in their Style section, featured just like Anya had been. It felt like manifestation in motion — a reminder that sometimes believing is the first step toward making it real.
In 2017, another spark arrived. I was watching Nancy Silverton on Chef’s Table — her hands folding dough, her joy in the tactile process of making bread, her generosity in sharing it. She wasn’t pretentious or boastful; she was simply devoted to the craft.
At the time, I wasn’t a baker. But Nancy made me think, Why not? That was the day I decided to try sourdough.
A few years later in 2021, while working in a restaurant kitchen, a chef told me I understood seasoning. It was a small comment, but it landed deeply — the kind of affirmation that stays with you. Watching Mario Batali praise Nancy Silverton’s palate made me think back to that moment. It was another reminder that capability isn’t about titles or years of experience. Sometimes, someone just sees it in you before you see it yourself.
These moments — 2012, 2014, 2017, 2021 — are all connected. They taught me that fear and insecurity are part of trying new things, but an “aha moment” can shift everything. That’s why I do what I do now.
Everything I create — a bag, a recipe, a way of bringing people together — is meant to give you that same yes, I can spark. Because style, beauty, and confidence aren’t about perfection or status. They’re about believing in yourself, following your curiosity, and chasing the thing you can’t stop imagining.
My dream kitchen - light, airy, greenery, art. It’s all so good.
This bralette is gorgeous! I keep thinking about it, so it’s time to buy.
Just made our family favorite for a house full on Sunday, and it was a hit!
Billy Reid’s Shoal denim shirt is a go-to for me all winter. I have the dark wash, and this will be in my closet very soon!
Black satin kitten heels for fall — and they do not disappoint. And this pair is timeless, the kind of style you’ll wear for years. And try this for a lower price point.