08/17/2026
This summer marks 10 years of being an entrepreneur.
And honestly⦠27-year-old me had no idea what she was stepping into.
I was 27 with about $100 in my bank account and a very clear feeling that the cubicle life was NOT it. š
So I borrowed money from my mom and sister, bought a spray tan machine, got trained, and rented a 100-square-foot room in the East Village.
No investors. No big plan. No team. Just an idea, a little money, a lot of stubbornness, and a strong need to build something of my own.
Fast forward to todayā¦
I own Bronze515 Custom Airbrush Tanning now in a 1,600-square-foot storefront in Urbandale with an incredible team and a business Iām so proud of.
But one business wasnāt enough.
In 2020, I bought a HORSE TRAILER, turned it into a food truck, and launched Waffles & Whip. š§
That chapter taught me everythingāabout business, people, risk, and myself⦠and also what I donāt want to do forever.
This year, I sold the food truck and closed that chapter.
Then came business #3.
In 2024, I had an idea:
What if people in Des Moines met in real life instead of on dating apps?
And thatās how Date Me Dsm was born. ā¤ļø
What started as a simple idea has turned into events, matches, friendships, relationships, and a growing community choosing real connection over screens.
Three businesses. Three industries. Three very different chapters.
But the common thread?
Building something from nothing.
Thatās what I love about entrepreneurship taking an idea, solving a problem, and creating something people can actually experience in the real world.
Itās messy. Risky. Exhausting. Humbling. And also one of the most rewarding things Iāve ever done.
Ten years ago, I had $100 and a 100-square-foot room.
Today, I have an incredible community, and more lessons than I can count.
I have no idea what the next 10 years will bring.
And honestly? I donāt need to.
Iāll keep building. Keep learning. Keep taking chances. And keep saying yes to the next crazy idea.
Hereās to 10 years. š„
And to 27-year-old meā¦
Iām really proud of you. ā¤ļø