On not playing it safe
We may have just closed on another business…
COOKING Sausage and Kale Tortellini Bake swap ground turkey for sausage
WATCHING Love is Blind USA its baaaaack!
CRAFTING 20 Halloween Crafts for Kids
BUYING Vinoperfect Brightening Dark Spot Serum stocked up in Portugal
SHARING Martinhal Sagres Resort Review
Currently
I knew this year was going to be big—really big. Sure, I could list the reasons why: a two-month adventure to Portugal, the launch of my podcast, and the decision my husband, Jason, and I made to buy a local business so that one day, we could both step away from the corporate world completely. (Of course I’d already made that leap, but Jason is still living the tech life full-time.)
But here’s what I didn’t predict: we wouldn’t just make this big, highly calculated decision once. We would make it twice.
Let me rewind to May. That was when we announced we’d acquired MNTSTUDIO, a well-known Pilates reformer studio here in the Bay Area. Our dream was to build the brand into three studios over the next five years—a goal that felt ambitious and exciting. But if there’s one thing you should know about us, it’s that “ambitious” tends to be an understatement. We can’t help but dream big, and we definitely don’t like to wait around for five-year plans.
And so we found ourselves searching for the perfect spot for a second location—right from the coworking space in Portugal, where we were living our two-month adventure. (Spoiler alert: we did find that second spot, signed the lease, and there’s much more to share on that soon!)
Being in Portugal was a life-changing experience for many reasons (I’ll be doing a full recap soon on my podcast), but one of the most important was the space it gave us to really ask ourselves, “Why wait? Why not go all in now?” It pushed us to dream even bigger.
Jason started to explore more opportunities in the boutique fitness world. He spent weeks analyzing options, spreadsheets, data points—you name it. But something in my gut was holding me back. I can’t quite explain it, but there was this nagging feeling telling me the opportunities he was coming across weren't right. I urged him to keep looking, keep searching, keep asking questions, until we found something that felt... right.
And then, five weeks ago, almost by chance, we stumbled on the opportunity to acquire another thriving Pilates reformer studio in the Bay Area—in the very location we had our eyes set on for a future MNT expansion. This was a chance find, but it felt fated. It felt like everything we’d learned from our first studio purchase was coming full circle. Even more serendipidous, we were exactly the team the owner had been searching for.
We moved fast. And I mean fast. We took everything we’d learned from acquiring MNT—the mistakes, the wins, the what-not-to-dos—and we flew through a quick close. And just like that, as of Monday we became the proud owners of our second Pilates studio. This new studio, though independent from MNT for now, is special. It offers a different take on Pilates, serves a distinct community, and is thriving just as it is. We’re excited to observe, learn, and make small tweaks to enhance the experience, all while allowing things to develop naturally. If the time feels right, a brand transition may happen down the line. Or maybe not.
I share all of this because life is a series of calculated risks. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that the doors worth opening are the ones that scare you the most to walk through. But there’s a balance. You don’t just blindly close doors or dive headfirst without thinking. You need to calculate, reflect, and ask questions. Understand your “why.” Look at the data. But ultimately, trust your gut.
Motherhood has taught me that intuition is powerful. If something feels off, it usually is. If it feels right, even if it’s risky or terrifying, then it’s worth exploring. Growth only comes from discomfort, and confidence comes from trusting what you know deep down to be true.
So, if you’re facing a big decision, lean into it. Calculate your risks, follow the data, but don’t forget that little voice inside. Trust your intuition. Sometimes the biggest leaps lead to the most fulfilling destinations.
All The Things
As a busy working mom, I need skincare that's quick and easy. These products keep my skin glowing without stealing time from my busy day. Shop the full edit!
AM Skincare
Caudalie Vinoclean Gentle Foam Cleanser a refreshing lightweight cleanser for the morning
Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant
Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance Serum this was sold-out EVERYWHERE in Portugal!
Caudalie Vinoperfect Dark Circle Brightening Eye Cream with Niacinamide
Merit Great Skin Moisturizer I don’t know how, but if you layer your foundation on top of this it creates this blur effect
PM Skincare
BANILA CO Clean It Zero Original 3-In-1 Cleansing Balm tried and true, used it for years
Caudalie Vinergetic C+ Instant Detox Mask been doing this 2x a week
Caudalie Premier Cru The Eye Cream love the built in metal applicator
Caudalie Overnight Detox Oil
Outfit Spotlight
With San Francisco experiencing record breaking temps this week, this dress (out of stock in brown) is keeping me cool while also being a great Fall transition piece. I love to pair it with these sandals for a warm day, or these sneakers when chasing the kids around.
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Thanks as always for following along on this journey,
Barbara