This Valentine’s Day, my husband gifted me something better than chocolate. He gave me time. Time to wander. Time to observe. Time to be Adrienna the creative, not just mama for a few hours.
So I headed to the Beauregard Fairgrounds Mardi Gras Festival for a little R&D. Research and development… but also Rediscovering and Daring.
If I’m being honest, it was hard.
Most of my daily conversations are with my two-year-old. I narrate snack time. I negotiate nap time. I sing about putting on shoes. Walking into a festival full of grown-ups and small business owners felt like stepping onto a stage without a script.
But here’s what I found instead of fear:
Welcome. Encouragement. Community.
The exact essence of Spiraling Creatively.
Creative Shoutouts
I met so many incredible local vendors, and I want to celebrate a few of them.
Idle Mind Creations
Thank you for being so welcoming and kind. I originally planned to gift the journal I bought to my sister… but it’s so beautiful I might just keep it and pretend that was the plan all along. Creative self-care absolutely counts.
Grand Root Remedies
Thank you for being so open about your journey and for patiently answering all my questions. That kind of transparency is priceless. The soap smells incredible, and I cannot wait to try the tea. I will absolutely be back.
Popalicious
Thank you for sharing information so freely and being open to future questions. That cake pop? Unreal. I was lucky to get a single bite before my daughter claimed it as her own.
Southern Suds & Pastures
You can truly see the care and intention poured into every product. The dewberry jam we brought home feels like something straight from a country kitchen. I cannot wait to open that jar and taste the love behind it.
Bayou Candle Company
Thank you for introducing me to markets I hadn’t even heard of and for chatting through website platforms with me. The Vanilla Chai candle is already filling our home with the warmest, coziest glow.
Roxy’s Crafty Corner
You are sunshine in human form. Seeing your custom piñatas and hearing how your family creates together was such a beautiful reminder that business can be both meaningful work and shared joy.
These are just a handful of the vendors I connected with. Every single one of them is building something. Dreaming something. Creating something. And even more beautiful, they are supporting one another while they do it.
Today wasn’t just about shopping. It was about studying booth setups. Observing pricing. Watching how people interact. Asking questions. Learning what works. Imagining my own table at my very first show in March.
I left inspired.
A little braver.
And very grateful.
If this is what creative community feels like, I cannot wait to step into it more.
Here’s to spiraling outward instead of shrinking inward.
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