You know...

That kind of vibe.

Red Tape and Drywall Dust
Kelsey Surratt Kelsey Surratt

Red Tape and Drywall Dust

You can follow the rules, double-check the fine print, pay every fee - and still feel like you’re doing something wrong. The rules don’t always come printed. You’ve missed a secret step somewhere. Suddenly you’re opening 2 weeks later than you hoped with still a mountain to climb to get there.

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Heat Stroke but High Hopes
Kelsey Surratt Kelsey Surratt

Heat Stroke but High Hopes

If you’re not from Georgia, let me explain: summer here isn’t just hot - it’s a full-body experience. The kind of heat that feels like you’re being wrapped in a damp wool blanket while standing inside someone’s exhale. Add in a little paint, a few heavy furniture pieces, and exactly zero breeze, and you’ve got yourself a wellness retreat for the slightly unhinged.

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After Hours, All In
Kelsey Surratt Kelsey Surratt

After Hours, All In

We’re in that phase where Jonquies is still part paint fumes, part product chaos - and it takes more than one set of hands to keep it moving forward. While I’m handling the bulk of the day-to-day (and every decision from lightbulbs to logistics), his after-hours help has made a big difference.

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Paint Splatters and Paperwork: Gratitude in the Mess
Kelsey Surratt Kelsey Surratt

Paint Splatters and Paperwork: Gratitude in the Mess

The week we took possession of the space, my husband and I both came down with truly glorious colds. We powered through with tissues in one hand and a lease in the other, because apparently nothing says "small business ownership" like trying to interpret municipal rules and CAM clauses while coughing up a lung.

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One Store Opens, Another (Unexpectedly) Closes
Kelsey Surratt Kelsey Surratt

One Store Opens, Another (Unexpectedly) Closes

While we’ve been gearing up for the launch of Jonquies, another chapter has quietly and suddenly come to a pause. My parents’ store, the one I begrudgingly grew up in, has closed unexpectedly due to a leasing issue.

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Keys, Please! We’ve Got a Store
Kelsey Surratt Kelsey Surratt

Keys, Please! We’ve Got a Store

After touring more spaces than we care to admit, we landed on a spot that just felt right. People meet here, linger here, and stumble upon things they didn’t know they needed (hello, future shoppers). It’s exactly the kind of energy we wanted for Jonquies.

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Dare to Delegate
Kelsey Surratt Kelsey Surratt

Dare to Delegate

My upwork.com hire was engaged in the logo process from start to finish, and I am so charmed by the character she created in the jonquie in a little more than a weekend.

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