If you would have told junior high schooler me that I would be launching my own BUSINESS when I was 25, I would have told you that you had the wrong Katie in mind. I was never great with numbers, I was not interested in FBLA or DECA in school, and I certainly was not a business administration major in college. Instead, I felt the call on my life to go into youth ministry. I’m still in pursuit of that calling but look at this!!!!

Welcome to Tilly + Teal!

I could not be more excited for the adventure! Event planning was the other path I could have decided to take when it came time for decision making. But, like I said previously, I felt a tug on my heart to go another direction. I went to school and graduated with a Bachelor’s in Theology with a concentration in Youth Ministry. From there, I played this adult game of ‘Let’s Find a Job!’ In all honesty it felt like the actual game show where Wayne Brady would be giving me options on which career to try out. Or better yet, I felt like I was playing a real time “Life” game. You guys, I tried everything. From a marketing director at a Chick-Fil-A to catering manager for a Duck Donuts to an administrative assistant for a really grumpy life insurance broker. Nothing was working. I was stuck. Then, something did happen.

My open door for this industry was the gamble I took, or rather a venue took on me, as a venue coordinator. Remember, I went to school for theology. I did not have any formal training. Yet, they hired me. I taught myself the business. I connected with local vendors, invited wedding planners to come tour the venue, got the community involved, signed up for WeddingWire, and joined a local networking group. I was Googling a whole lot and using the common sense the Lord put in me. I pulled off multiple events from weddings to bridal showers to birthday parties that included making a make shift mini putt putt course. I was in the office from 9 to 9 and I absolutely loved it. It was like I found a whole new calling. I looked forward to coming to work, working with the people I did, and finding something new to teach myself. Plus, I was pretty good at it. I found myself saying a lot of “Thank You’s!” and receiving a lot of admiration for my work ethic and innate ability to put together an event of any kind.

Then, the fun came to a brake slamming halt that threw me back into the Life game. I was back on the job hunt. I was spinning the move maker and wondering where I would go. My faith is a huge part of my life so, of course, I prayed. I reached out to those I had connected with in the industry looking for work. To my surprise they all told me around the same, general thought.

Katie, why don’t you launch your own business?!

‘HAHAHA’ was the typical response I gave them. How could someone like me launch her own business. I do not have a clue on how to do such thing.I knew almost barely anything about the industry but what I had taught myself and the many trial and errors. Laughing my own planning business was an absurd thought. I now am a full time employee at an emergency crisis transitional youth shelter in Loudoun County. When I am not ministering to those kids at work I am here… working diligently on T+T. The unthinkable thing happened. I am a business owner. That is so scary to say. But here I am. It’s really happening…

So I invite you to poke around the minimalist site. Get to know me a bit more and where the name came from on the About page. Check out some recent stories I was able to collaborate on. In addition, be sure to check back here from time to time. This adventure is bound to be entertaining to say the least. 

But for now, Tilly and I say…

Have a Purr-fect day!