05/24/2026
Our doors have been open for seven months now, and I still find myself walking around our little space during the quiet moments, completely overwhelmed with happiness. I’ve realized a lifelong dream.
Is it exactly what I envisioned? No. But Kristine and I have so much to be proud of. Building something meaningful takes time, patience, and a whole lot of hard work.
I still catch myself dreaming of ways to make the boutique feel even more like us — turning little areas into cozy corners instead of just a room full of stuff, painting different sections to reflect the atmosphere of each space, and continuing to create something that feels warm, welcoming, and personal.
I’m also so excited to watch Kristine continue growing her product lines in both the women’s and children’s departments. There is still so much we want to do, but there is also so much we’ve already accomplished together.
Getting to know Kristine has truly been one of the greatest blessings in all of this. Not only is she beautiful on the outside, but she is just as beautiful on the inside. She is hardworking, giving, determined, genuine, and one of the most supportive people I’ve ever met. I feel incredibly lucky that this business has turned into such a meaningful friendship. I truly believe we can do great things together in our little space.
Over these past seven months, we’ve also had the privilege of meeting some of the most interesting and supportive customers. Yesterday alone, I visited with a group of cousins from Arizona and several other states who were at the Sagewood for their niece’s graduation party. I chatted with a couple from Adel, two ladies from Ankeny, and another sweet woman from Des Moines as well.
One of our frequent customers, Marilyn, stopped in to buy flowers for decorating graves. Janene, who works at Crouse Cafe, regularly stops by to gather a pile of her favorite finds — and when she’s not here, she’s sending customers our way to check us out.
And I love that Kay comes by on Thursdays because we’re open until 6 and she gets off work just in time. She says the store makes her happy and that every time she visits, she notices something she didn’t see before. Sometimes she buys something, and sometimes she doesn’t — and honestly, I love that she feels comfortable enough to simply be here. Because our little space has always meant so much more to me than just a profit margin.
For me, this is 37 years of dreaming about creating a magical little place like this.
None of it would have been possible without Misty Darling. She had a vision for the Sagewood, and we are so fortunate she allowed us to become part of that vision.
Stay tuned, friends, because Kristine and I are only getting started. We can’t wait to continue making our little space even better.
Thank you for allowing us to be part of your community. 🤍
