The Dream vs The Reality of Opening My Shop in 3 Weeks
If you’d told me three weeks ago that I’d be opening my own shop in just 12 days…
I probably would’ve laughed. Or cried. Or both.
Because this wasn’t some long-term, perfectly planned, neatly mapped-out business move.
This was one of those moments where life just says,
“Here’s your chance… now run with it.”
And so I did.
The Dream
In my head, it was effortless.
You know the kind of space I mean…
Soft lighting.
Blush pink tones.
Beautifully styled shelves.
Everything calm, intentional, and just so.
A place where people could walk in and instantly feel their shoulders drop. Where overwhelmed mums, SEND parents, and exhausted humans could take a breath and feel held for a moment.
A little sanctuary on the high street. Not just a shop… but an experience.
A feeling.
The Reality
Now let me bring you into what it’s actually looked like behind the scenes.
An old car sales office, paint sheets on the path, cars on either side, flat-pack furniture covering the floor.Screws, panels, and instructions that may as well have been written in another language.
Spending four hours building a shop counter…
while I’m in a wheelchair and Matthew is battling carpal tunnel and collarbone inflammation.
At one point we just looked at each other like,
“What are we even doing right now?”
Dust everywhere. Wires trailing across the floor.
Constantly moving things around because what looked right in my head didn’t quite work in real life. Building something and then realising it needed to go somewhere else, having to rethink the entire layout from scratch. All while I’m in pain, exhausted, and still running the business, creating stock, answering messages, and trying to keep everything moving forward.
It hasn’t been pretty.
It hasn’t been polished.
But it’s been real.
Three Weeks Ago, This Didn’t Exist
That’s the bit I keep coming back to.
Three weeks ago, this shop wasn’t even a solid plan.
It wasn’t “opening soon.”
It wasn’t “in progress.”
It was just an idea… a possibility… a “maybe one day.”
And now?
The wallpaper is up — and it feels like me.
The cabinets are filling with pink bags and products I’ve poured my heart into. The counter is built (eventually 😅). The sign is glowing on the wall.
There’s energy in the space now.
A presence.
A feeling.
It’s not finished.
But it’s becoming.
The Bit People Don’t See
When the doors open, people will walk in and see:
A beautiful little shop
A calm space
Products lined up neatly
A dream brought to life
What they won’t see is everything that built it.
The moments of doubt, the “how am I going to pay for this?” panic.The physical pain days where my body is screaming at me to stop… but I don’t.
The mental load of holding it all together.
The late nights, the early starts and the constant juggling.
And the truth is, that part matters just as much as the finished result.
Why I’m Sharing This (Especially If You’re Building Something Too)
Because I know there are so many of you out there trying to build something of your own.
A business.
A new path.
A version of your life that feels more like you.
And it doesn’t look like the dream yet.
It feels messy.
Slow.
Overwhelming.
Like you’re making it up as you go.
Let me tell you something honestly, that doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong, it means you’re doing it for real.
Progress Over Perfection
If I’d waited for the “perfect moment” to open a shop…
I wouldn’t be opening one in 12 days.
Because perfect doesn’t exist in real life.
What exists is:
- Showing up when it’s hard
- Figuring it out as you go
- Making decisions without having all the answers
- Building anyway
This shop isn’t perfect.
But it’s built with love, intention and resilience.And that matters more than anything being flawless.
12 Days to Go…
In 12 days, I’ll be opening the doors.
Not to a showroom-perfect space.
But to something real. Something heartfelt. Something created in a whirlwind of determination and belief.
And honestly?
I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Because every single corner of this shop holds a piece of the journey that got it here.
Final Thought
Dreams don’t arrive ready-made.
They come flat-packed.
Confusing.
A bit overwhelming.
Sometimes painful.
They require a screwdriver…
a bit of swearing…
a lot of heart…
…and the willingness to keep going even when it feels hard.
And somehow…
you build them anyway 💗
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