You Don't Have to Stay in One Lane.

My daughter graduates kindergarten tomorrow.

I told her afterwards I’d take her to lunch - just me and her. She wants it to be a surprise where we go - gosh love her so much! Part of me feels so excited about this special little moment together. And the other part of me feels a tinge of guilt because I honestly don’t know the last time just her and I went and did something alone.

Maybe this was my reminder to do that more. :)

Lately, I feel like change is in the air.

I listened to a podcast recently and the host said something like…

Your brand evolves with you. It never stays the same.

I felt that deep in my core.

There have been so many times over the years where I wondered if I needed more of a “niche.” Should I just stay in the baking lane I originally created Urban.Apron around over 16 years ago?

Don’t get too off track. Don’t confuse people. Stick to one thing. Stay in your lane. Focus.

But the truth is… life evolves.

Urban.Apron has evolved because I’ve evolved.

When I first started this blog, I was a journalism student who loved writing, baking and sharing recipes. Since then, life has changed in (literally) a million ways.

I went to law school. I moved to St. Louis. I got married. I became a mom to three amazing kids. I found a passion for skincare, wellness and clean living. I got more involved in my local community. I started mentoring an incredible Oliveda team of women.

Somewhere along the way, this space became about way more than recipes.

This space became about real life.

The messy, beautiful chaos of it all.

And if I’m being honest, staying in one lane wouldn’t feel very real anymore. The connections and conversations wouldn’t feel as meaningful. This brand wouldn’t feel like me.

Right now, I feel like I’m in a season of transition and growth.

I have a bazillion ideas in my head for where I want to go, what I want to create and the kind of life I want to build in the years ahead.

At the same time, I also feel very aware that I’m still “in route.”

I’m not fully there yet.

And I think that’s okay!

Maybe growth is supposed to feel a little messy sometimes?

Maybe the detours and off-track moments are still part of the destination?

I think a lot about how life really is just a collection of chapters in our book called life. Every season. Every year. Every hard moment. Every new beginning.

It all becomes part of your own story.

And the beautiful thing is we can start a new chapter any dang day we want!

As summer approaches, I can already feel the tension in my brain between ambition and presence.

My kids will be home with me most of the next three months.

One minute I’m panicking that I won’t accomplish everything I want to with work, goals and ideas.

The very next minute I’m reminding myself:

• This was the goal.

• This flexibility is what I worked so hard for.

• This is what I used to dream about.

My whole life I’ve been a high achiever. Sports. School. Work.

I’ve always been someone chasing the next thing, pushing toward the next goal and trying to accomplish more. Which is probably why slowing down always feels difficult for me!

I’m learning that maybe there’s value in just being sometimes. Being present. Being myself. Being in the moment. Maybe even being bored once in a while!

We’ll see how that goes this summer. ;)

But truly, thank you for being here.

Whether you’ve followed Urban.Apron for years or you just recently found this corner of the internet, I’m so grateful.

Thank you for reading the recipes, the random thoughts, the motherhood moments, the wellness finds, the life updates and all the in-between pieces of my evolving story.

And wherever you are in your own season right now, I hope you know this:

You are allowed to evolve. You are allowed to change directions. You are allowed to grow.

And I’m cheering you on through all of it.

xx, Anna