Behind the Heart of Brushwood Corners: The Week That Tried (and Taught) Me — Small Business, Motherhood & Making Soap with Heart

brushwoodcorners
Nov 9, 2025
5 min read

“Some weeks feel like a balancing act between dreams and exhaustion — but even on the messy days, I keep showing up.”

Balancing Life, Business, and Handmade Soap at Brushwood Corners

This week has been a mix of ups, downs, and everything in between. There were moments I felt proud, moments I felt completely behind, and a few where I wondered if I was doing any of this right at all.

Running a small business while juggling motherhood isn’t for the faint of heart. Between early mornings, late nights, and endless to-do lists, there’s rarely a quiet moment. But every bit of it — even the frustrating, tear-in-your-coffee moments — is part of the story.

Social Media Struggles: Building an Authentic Small Business Presence

I’ll be honest: I feel like I’m utterly failing at TikTok and Instagram lately. I’ve got so many clips filmed — videos made, reels half-edited — but finding the energy (and confidence) to post them consistently? That’s the hard part.

It’s this strange mix of wanting to share every part of my handmade soap journey and not wanting to get lost in the noise. But like everything else in this season, I’ll get there one post, one pour, one day at a time.

Handcrafted Soap Milestones: 120 Bars Poured and a Pool Covered

Despite the chaos, I poured 120 bars of soap this week — one hundred and twenty! Fifty of them are completely new, featuring a scent that takes me straight back to high school. If you grew up in the late ’90s or early 2000s, you’ll recognize it instantly — bright, nostalgic, and completely addictive.

And while it might seem small, I also finally got my pool cover on — one of those chores that’s been sitting on my list way too long. I couldn’t have done it without the two amazing kids I still have at home. They jumped right in to help, worked alongside me, and together we got it done in about an hour and a half. That simple teamwork meant the world — a reminder that the best kind of success is the kind you share.

A Heartwarming Moment: My Daughter’s Parent-Teacher Conference

In the middle of all the busyness, my daughter had her parent-teacher conference this week. Her teachers couldn’t stop smiling as they talked about how kind, bright, and hardworking she is. They mentioned how often she talks about how hard I work every day — and how proud she is of what I’m building.

That one comment stopped me in my tracks. I cried a little after that meeting because I realized something I forget too easily: she’s watching me. She sees the late nights, the tired mornings, the determination, and still sees strength. That reminder alone made every long day this week worth it.

When the Crops Came Down: A Lesson in Trust and Strength

This week also brought a big change outside my window — the crops came down. That beautiful wall of tall, golden corn that framed my yard all season long is gone, and suddenly the world feels wide open. I always hate this part — the field looks so bare, and I feel a little exposed when the corn comes down.

But this year, it wasn’t just about the view. It came with a flood of emotions.

Since buying my property in 2019, this was the first year I actually got paid for the crops grown on my land. The check was small, but it meant more than the dollar amount — it meant being seen, finally receiving something for what’s rightfully mine.

Then the harder thoughts crept in — the reality that for the past five years, the person farming my land, someone I’ve known my whole life, had taken advantage of me. A man who’s known my family for decades, who’s been around since before I was born — farming my land for free, pocketing what was mine, and never once making it right.

That realization hit hard. It’s not about the money as much as the trust — how people you think you know can turn out to be something else entirely. It’s a heavy truth to sit with. But it’s also part of the lesson: not everyone you trust will do right by you, and sometimes you have to lose that naivety to grow stronger roots.

The Emotional Roller Coaster of Entrepreneurship

Owning a small handmade business means living on a roller coaster — one minute you’re celebrating restocks, and the next you’re stressing over bills, orders, or time. Some days I feel like I’m building something incredible. Other days, I feel like I’m just trying to stay afloat.

But through all of it, I remind myself why I started: to create something meaningful, honest, and rooted in hard work and heart.

Looking Ahead: Upcoming Craft Shows and Online Growth

I have two shows left this year:

November 15th — this coming Saturday
December 5th — my last show before Christmas

After that, I plan to shift my focus to the online store — building a rhythm that feels sustainable: list items, check orders, package, ship, and repeat. I can picture the flow: orders ready on the porch for pickup, little notes tucked inside, and that small-business balance that finally feels possible.

I’m still searching for a full-time job on top of my part-time ones, but I’m grateful for a business that keeps me grounded and hopeful.

My Go-To Small Business Helpers

Here are a few things that are genuinely helping me manage my time, stress, and space:

🗓 Social Media Planner – I picked up a content planner on Amazon that’s already helping me map out posts, blog days, and product launches. I’m hoping it keeps me accountable for posting regularly. https://amzn.to/3Xq6awl
📦 Plastic Totes & Storage Containers – Keeping all my bars labeled, separated, and organized has made a world of difference. It saves time when I’m prepping for shows or restocking. https://amzn.to/3WOuwjj
🖨 Munbyn Thermal Printer – My little workhorse for shipping labels, lip balm labels, and moonlight tallow balm labels. It connects right to my computer and prints clean, professional labels fast. https://amzn.to/4nPmpxL
🧾 Epson EcoTank ET-2980– This one handles all of my bar labels, from the standard labels to the new party favor labels. It’s been a huge upgrade from the messy, ink-heavy methods I was using. After going throw 3 standard ink cartridges at $49.95each in the first 3 months this item is absolutely saving me money. https://amzn.to/4qMkFbD

I plan to make a small Amazon section soon — a simple list of “Things That Help My Small Business Stay Sane” — so other makers, small-business owners, or dreamers can find tools that really work.

“Staying organized doesn’t make life perfect — it just makes the chaos feel a little more manageable.”

Behind the Heart of Brushwood Corners

From my good morning posts (often written from bed with coffee in hand) to late-night order prep, every day at Brushwood Corners is a blend of chaos, creativity, and gratitude. It’s not perfect. It’s real. And that’s enough.

This week reminded me that I’m not doing it alone — that my kids are helping, learning, and cheering me on. That maybe, in the middle of exhaustion, I’m doing something right after all.

“Even when I feel like I’m falling behind, I remind myself — the fact that I’m still showing up means I’m already winning.”

XOXO,

KariAnne – Brushwood Corners

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This post may contain affiliate links. If you choose to purchase through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my small-batch soap journey!