Hello friends,

I wanted to share a little life and business update—and let you in on what’s been happening behind the scenes at Shine & Pixels.

Last year, after 15 years in the classroom, I left teaching to follow a dream: building a web design business rooted in creativity, intention, and the kind of work I truly love. And in many ways, I did just that. I launched Shine & Pixels, worked with wonderful clients, and created content that helped people see the value of beautiful, thoughtful websites.

But a few months ago, I made the decision to return to teaching full-time.

It wasn’t an easy choice—but it was a necessary one. The financial unpredictability of building a business from scratch without a stable income was something I couldn’t ignore. It affected how I felt day-to-day: anxious, pressured, and creatively stifled. Going back to the classroom brought me financial peace—and the ability to breathe again.

That decision has meant putting my business on the back burner, at least a little. I didn’t write a blog post or send a newsletter last week. I’ve been quieter on Instagram. Honestly, between teaching full-time and being a mom to a nearly-six-year-old, there’s not a whole lot of energy left at the end of the day.

But here’s what I’m learning: quieter doesn’t mean quitting.

I’ve been slowly reimagining Shine & Pixels. This summer, I’m planning to launch a template shop—a space to share website templates, but also Notion templates and maybe even a digital planner designed for use with Goodnotes. These are tools I personally love and rely on, and I’m excited to design them in a way that brings both beauty and function to other people’s lives, too.

And fueling a lot of this reflection is a book I just started reading: Tiny Experiments: How to Live Freely in a Goal-Obsessed World by Anne-Laure Le Cunff. It’s a breath of fresh air. The book challenges the pressure to constantly chase big goals and instead encourages small, curious experiments as a way to learn, grow, and stay aligned with what truly matters to you.

Reading it has made me realize that I don’t need to go all-in on one big thing or have it all figured out right now. I can try new things without burning down everything I’ve built. I can test ideas like adding Notion templates to my shop, or shifting my blog toward more personal content, without needing it to be The Thing That Works Immediately.

It’s also helped me realize I want to write differently. Up until now, most of my blog content has been geared toward convincing people why they need a website—because I needed to get clients. But I’m craving something more expansive. I want to share more about what I’m reading, what I’m learning, how I’m growing. I may even open up about personal things—like my fertility journey—because it feels important to let this space reflect the whole of who I am, not just my business card.

So, consider this a little pause. A chance to breathe, recalibrate, and realign before moving forward.

I’m still here. I’m still creating—just a little more slowly, a little more gently, and with a lot more intention. I’m excited to share more in the coming months as I start to build out the shop and experiment with new offerings and content. Until then, thank you for walking alongside me. Whether you’ve been here from the beginning or you just found Shine & Pixels, I’m so grateful you’re here.

Here’s to tiny experiments, sustainable creativity, and building a life that feels like your own.